Federal Conservation Research Articles

Multi-Sensor Approach to Improve Bathymetric Lidar Mapping of Semi-Arid Groundwater-Dependent Streams: Devils River, Texas

Remote sensing technology enables detecting, acquiring, and recording certain information about objects and locations from distances relative to their geographic locations. Airborne Lidar bathymetry (ALB) is an active, non-imaging, remote sensing technology for measuring the depths of shallow and relatively transparent water bodies using light beams from an airborne platform. In this study, we acquired Lidar datasets using near-infrared and visible (green) wavelength with the Leica Airborne Hydrography AB Chiroptera-I system over the Devils River basin of southwestern Texas. Devils River is a highly groundwater-dependent stream that flows 150 km from source springs to Lake Amistad on the lower Rio Grande. To improve spatially distributed stream bathymetry in aquatic habitats of species of state and federal conservation interest, we conducted supplementary water-depth observations using other remote sensing technologies integrated with the airborne Lidar datasets. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) mapped the river bottom where vegetation impeded other active sensors in attaining depth measurements. We confirmed the accuracy of bathymetric Lidar datasets with a differential global positioning system (GPS) and compared the findings to sonar and GPR measurements. The study revealed that seamless bathymetric and geomorphic mapping of karst environments in complex settings (e.g., aquatic vegetation, entrained air bubbles, riparian zone obstructions) require the integration of a variety of terrestrial and remotely operated survey methods. We apply this approach to Devils River of Texas. However, the methods are applicable to similar streams globally.

Opportunities for Systematically Valuing Ecosystem Service Benefits Produced by Federal Conservation Programs

Federal agencies invest taxpayer dollars every year in conservation programs that are focused on improving a suite of ecosystem services produced on private lands. A better understanding of the public benefits generated by federal conservation programs could help improve governmental efficiency and economic welfare by providing science-based evidence for use in policy decision-making regarding targeting of federal conservation investments. Of specific concern here are conservation investments made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). While previous research has shown that efficiency gains are possible using cost-benefit analysis for targeting conservation investments, agency-wide implementation of this approach by policy makers has been constrained by the limited availability of location-specific information regarding conservation benefits. Cost-effective opportunities for integrating location-specific ecosystem service valuation research with USDA conservation decision-making include: (1) institutionalizing funding of comparable studies suitable for benefit transfer, (2) utilizing non-traditional data sources for research complementing benefit transfer, and (3) creating a state-of-the-art program for developing and communicating research in ecosystem service valuation exemplifying the highest standards of scientific conduct.

The Ecosystem Service Valuation and Federal Conservation Special Issue of ARER

AbstractValuing the ecosystem services delivered by conservation and stewardship programs is of interest within USDA and across the federal government. Answering these types of questions requires accurate and scientifically sound measures of Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs). While there is a rich literature on valuation of nonmarket goods, it is often difficult to use for the ESVs provided by USDA and other federal agencies. To advance understanding of the use of ESVs in conservation programs, this special issue of ARER presents selected papers from a 2019 workshop entitled “Applications and Potential of Ecosystem Services Valuation within USDA – Advancing the Science.”

O Desenvolvimento de um Modelo de Avaliação de Boas Práticas de Gestão Costeira Integrada como Base para a Gestão

The analysis, dissemination and adaptation of good practices have been a reality for a long time, carried out by various sectors of the public and private sectors. In the case of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM), this scenario is incipient and lacks conceptual and methodological development. Good practices in Integrated Coastal Management are fundamental for the sustainability of these areas. Although Brazil has a legal and executive framework for GCI established over 30 years ago, there is no instrument to identify and share these good practices. In this context, this article presents and analyzes the development of the Integrated Coastal Management Best Practices Assessment Model, which was tested in three assessments of specific management processes. The first two evaluations were carried out with the managers of the ‘Costa Sul’ Program, an integrated management experience on a regional scale in the South of Brazil. The third evaluation of the model was carried out at the Federal Conservation Unit ‘Estação Ecológica do Taim’ and analyzed the management of this protected area from the perspective of Integrated Coastal Management. Priority was given to the elaboration and application of the model, where its results were presented and analyzed as the main locus of the research, leaving the analysis of the results of the management processes (specifically) in the background. The Good Practice Assessment Model is a pioneering initiative in terms of systematic assessment of good practices in ICM in Brazil and can contribute to the definition of integrated strategic bases for decision making and support for adaptive management. Keywords: Conceptual modeling; Integrated coastal management; Good practices; Management Instruments; Good practices; Evaluation processes.

Revisão das Informações do Boto-Cinza (Sotalia guinensis) na Costa Brasileira

Os cetáceos, como o golfinho Sotalia guianensis (boto-cinza), são animais marinhos cujas populações vem diminuindo devido aos impactos antrópicos em seus ambientes. Assim, verificar o conhecimento sobre a espécie e suas áreas de proteção é importante para adotar novas medidas se preservação da espécie. Para isto, foi verificada a ocorrência do boto-cinza em unidades de conservação federais pelo endereço eletrônico do ICMBio e realizada uma revisão bibliográfica dos dados ambientais da espécie ao longo da costa brasileira. Foram identificadas 21 unidades de conservação com áreas terrestres e marinhas que possui registro para a espécie, sendo que destas, 15 são unidades de conservação de uso sustentável. Já em relação aos dados ecológicos, a espécie foi encontrada em sua maioria em águas rasas (menor que 10metros), com temperatura média da água variando de 21,9 a 24,2º. Em algumas áreas observou-se que o golfinho usa áreas maiores em estações diferentes, além de sua frequência em relação a sazonalidade também variar dentre os locais estudados. Ainda, foi identificado relações com a precipitação e maré. Apesar de apresentarem respostas diferentes as variáveis, os estudos indicam que o comportamento das populações de Sotalia guianensis pode ser explicado pela distribuição de suas presas, as quais também variam ao longo da costa brasileira.

Conservation significantly improves wetland conditions: evaluation of playa wetlands in different conservation status

This study assessed the conditions of wetland hydrology, hydrophyte and soil under different state and federal conservation programs, and then identified the restorable potential of conserved playas. The distribution of hydrology and hydrophyte were geospatially examined through annual tracking the quantity and quality of wetlands on historical hydric soil footprints under different conservation programs in the Rainwater Basin in Nebraska, USA during 2004–2015. The results show that the historical hydric soil footprints with the conservation programs had significantly better performance in ponded water and hydrophyte than non-conserved wetlands. The yearly average of ponded water areas within footprints varies at 12.59% for the Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), 14.78% for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), 27.37% for Wetlands Reserve Program’s conservation easements (WRPs), and 1.86% for non-conserved wetlands, respectively. The yearly average of hydrophyte plant community coverage within footprints reaches at 77.51% for WPAs, 79.28% for WMAs, and 66.53% for WRPs, and 8.82% for non-conserved hydric footprints. Within conserved lands, Massie/Water soil series demonstrated the prominent ability to hold ponding water, especially in the ponded footprints with higher ponding frequency. Nevertheless, the proportion of Fillmore, Rusco or Butler soil series roughly decreased when the ponding water frequency increased. The areas, with high likelihood to be restored, are the places between annual ponding/hydrophyte covered areas and 11 years’ maximized ponding/hydrophyte areas.

Geographic review on the specimens of the Caatinga Biome in the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (RB) herbarium.

BackgroundThis article provides a quantitative description of flora specimens stored in the Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro Herbarium that belongs to the Federal Conservation Units of Caatinga’s phytogeography domain. The Caatinga represents 11% of Brazilian territory and is, in South America, the largest and most biodiverse semi-arid tropical ecoregion, yet only 5% of its territory is covered by Federal Conservation Units, with few collections of flora samples. Thus, providing a georeferenced inventory of existing collections is essential for purposes of species distribution, environmental management and conservation. The aim of this data paper is to gauge, by means of geographic coordinates correction and retrieval of the flora specimens present in the RB Herbarium, the amount of specimen gatherings performed in the Federal Conservation Units belonging to the Caatinga domain.New informationCurrently, the RB data is publicly available online at several biodiversity portals, such as our institutional database JABOT, the Reflora Virtual Herbarium, the SiBBr and the GBIF portal (Lanna et al. 2019). However, a description of the dataset that belongs to the Federal Conservation Units of Caatinga’s phytogeography domain as a whole is not yet available in the literature.

Influence of the federal landowner Incentive Program

ABSTRACTThe Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) was introduced as a federal conservation program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2002 as a means to incentivize private landowners in the management of rare wildlife species and their habitats. States and tribes were encouraged to apply for competitive funding and establish appropriate programs aimed at reversing population declines of wildlife species on privately owned land. We document the origin of LIP and highlight 2 case studies that exemplify innovations catalyzed by LIP. From 2002 to 2007, US$127 million was appropriated and >4,300 projects were completed nationwide. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Effect of Cost-Sharing Federal Programs on Adoption of Water Conservation Practices: Results from Propensity Score Matching Approach

The extent of recommended conservation practices is crucial for addressing natural resource concerns on the farms. The practices implementation is supported by working lands conservation programs, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. The paper applies a propensity score matching approach to evaluate the effects of enrollment in the two federal conservation programs on irrigation water conservation practices adoption in Louisiana row crop agriculture. The analysis reveals that enrollment in the programs leads to statistically significant greater adoption of water management practices. The analysis provides correction for selection bias in adoption that can result from not accounting for the differences between program participants and non-participants. The analysis enables to provide a stronger and relatively accurate argument about the impact of conservation support programs on the adoption of conservation on the ground.

Federal conservation units in the Brazilian amazon coastal zone: An adequate approach to control recreational activities?

Coastal tourism usually is of enormous interest to local coastal communities due to its potential for the creation of jobs and the generation of income. Within this context, beaches are the main resource since they comprise a rich diversity of natural ecosystems and landscapes, as well as historical and cultural features, such as local gastronomy.

Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) of Tennessee

Freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) are an understudied fauna. Many U.S. state and federal conservation agencies lack fundamental information such as species lists and distribution data. Such information is necessary for management of aquatic resources and maintaining biotic diversity. During the months of June, July, and August of 2013, 2014 and 2015 a survey was conducted in Tennessee to document species of freshwater sponges and obtain preliminary distribution data. Selected rivers and streams were sampled at two to five sites. A total of 520 sponge samples were collected. Spicules and gemmules were viewed and photographed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Thirteen or 39% of the known species of freshwater sponges occurring in the North America have been collected from Tennessee's rivers and streams. Eunapius fragilis, Spongilla lacustris, and Trochospongilla horrida were the most abundant and widely distributed species. Corvospongilla becki and Heteromeyenia latitenta were the least frequently encountered sponges.

Conservation Adoption Among Owners and Tenant Farmers in the Southern United States

This study investigates owner and tenant characteristics and differences between these two groups in their participation in federal conservation initiatives. Bivariate probit model analysis, based on a 2016–2017 Louisiana row-crop producer’s survey show that owners, relative to tenant farmers, are more likely to adopt conservation in early years of ownership. The results emphasize the need for mechanisms for tenants in short-term contracts to invest in long-term conservation. Moreover, conservation initiatives should be tailored, as tenant farmers are increasingly farming more land and policies should carefully account for this growing group of farmers.

Identification of hotspots of at-risk terrestrial vertebrate species in the south-central Great Plains of North America: A tool to inform and address regional-scale conservation

Biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, and resources for conservation efforts are limited. This is particularly problematic in the Great Plains of North America, where land-cover conversion for agriculture and energy production has reduced habitat for many species. In the U.S. portion of the Great Plains, a growing human population and a concomitant increasing need for food, fiber, and energy have caused landscape transformations that have resulted in over 700 vertebrate species currently being listed by state and federal conservation agencies as being at-risk in this region. Conservation efforts for such a large number of species will be most efficient when applied to areas with large numbers of these species, but such areas have never before been identified. We overlaid range maps created by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Gap Analysis Program for terrestrial vertebrate species to identify hotspots of high concentrations of U.S. state-defined Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN; species that have identified as being rare or otherwise vulnerable enough to warrant conservation action in a given state) in the short- and mixed-grass prairie ecoregions of the southern and central Great Plains of the United States. We identified hotspots for species currently listed as SGCN as well as those pending designation, and a combined (current and pending) group. We then used data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Protected Areas Database on land ownership and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service on land use/land cover to quantify the types of land ownership and land use/land cover types in hotspots to give land managers necessary information to address conservation of at-risk species in the Great Plains. Sufficient data were present for examination of 289 at-risk terrestrial vertebrate species. Hotspots of these species were located mostly on state- or federally-managed land in eastern New Mexico, Colorado, and west Texas. The current hottest hotspots were associated with areas with more natural/less anthropogenic forms of land use/land cover; areas with the lowest numbers of SGCNs had proportionately more cropland and less grassland than did hotspots. Identifying regional hotspots of at-risk biodiversity, and describing land use/land cover features associated with such areas, offers an opportunity to take a multi-species approach in more precisely establishing areas of conservation concern in the U.S.

Finer‐scale habitat predicts nest survival in grassland birds more than management and landscape: A multi‐scale perspective

Abstract Birds may respond to habitat at multiple scales, ranging from microhabitat structure to landscape composition. North American grassland bird distributions predominantly reside on private lands, and populations have been consistently declining. Many of these lands are enrolled in U.S. federal conservation programmes, and properly guided management policies could alleviate declines. However, more evaluative research is needed on the effects of management policies juxtaposed with other multi‐scale habitat features. Furthermore, research focused on nest survival is arguably more valuable because habitat associations with avian densities can sometimes be deceptive. We investigated nest survival of a grassland facultative (red‐winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus) and obligate species (dickcissel Spiza americana), and two nesting communities (ground and above‐ground nesters) relative to management and multi‐scale habitat (nest‐site characteristics, in‐field microhabitat, patch metrics, and landscape context). Our study was conducted on private lands in Illinois (2011–2014) and directly linked to policy‐based management (discing, herbicidal spraying, spray/interseeding) and landowner decisions. Multi‐scale models explained more variation in nest survival compared to single scales or management in three of four analyses (blackbirds, dickcissels, and above‐ground nesters). Finer‐scale habitat variables, such as nest‐site characteristics, were more often in top and among the competitive models relative to landscape factors. Compared with other management types, discing (i.e., tractor‐pulled disc harrows removed approximately 50% of vegetation) displayed distinct effects and positively influenced nest survival in above‐ground nesters. Also, greater proportions of a field managed cumulatively and yearly, regardless of type, generally improved nest survival for dickcissels and above‐ground nesters. All groups except above‐ground nesters had generally higher nest survival in native‐grass dominated fields. Synthesis and applications. Habitat practitioners can improve nest survival for certain grassland birds by directly affecting in‐field microhabitat vegetation and structure. However, characteristics associated with specific nest locations often drive nest survival. We suggest habitat managers and agency staff promote native grass practices and management, such as discing, to enhance nest survival of grassland bird populations. Management will likely be most effective in favourable unfragmented grassland landscapes with less surrounding forested areas, which also promote other important responses (e.g., colonization and persistence) of target species.

Tree conservation can be constrained by agents from conservation permitting and funding agencies

ABSTRACTRecent conservation actions for Serianthes nelsonii Merr. and Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill in the Mariana Islands have illuminated some negative consequences associated with ill-informed agents representing permitting and funding agencies. Several cases from the islands of Guam and Tinian are discussed as ineffective conservation examples, and these are countered with two examples of successful conservation approaches. When biologists that act as points of contact for federal permitting and funding agencies do not possess education, knowledge, and experience that is germane to federally listed species, sound science may be marginalized from the conservation agenda. When rapid turnover of federal conservation agents introduces dysfunction, discontinuities in collaborations may thwart success. When lapses in conservation contracts are allowed, short-term extemporary contracting approaches are utilized, and conservation practitioners that lack the ability to include an experimental approach to conservation actions are employed, the co-production of new knowledge to enable decision support tools for future decision-makers may be hindered.

Are We Justified in Conducting Invasive Research on Captive Apes for Their Wild Counterparts?

Abstract Wildlife species are threatened for a variety of reasons; research on captive individuals of the same species can, in some circumstances, prevent wild population decline. Such decisions pit conservationists and animal rights advocates against one another—the former are interested in survival of the species and the latter in individual rights. I argue that invasive research on captive animals for the sake of wild animals is justifiable in cases of emergency only if it is the lesser of two evils. This requires that the individual chimpanzee be compensated for harms incurred. I then argue this logic generally does not apply to human beneficiaries of invasive research conducted on chimpanzees. This is not because species membership is morally significant, but because asymmetrical power relations characterized by dependency and vulnerability will always exist between the groups if human interests are at stake. The argument focuses on federal chimpanzee conservation policy.

Crop advisers as conservation intermediaries: Perceptions and policy implications for relying on nontraditional partners to increase U.S. farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation practices

Federal agricultural land use policies in the United States aimed at protecting soil health and water quality typically rely on persuading individual farmers to voluntarily adopt conservation practices. An expanding body of literature suggests that private sector intermediaries, such as crop advisers, are increasingly trusted sources of information for farmers about conservation practices and thus may be persuasive actors in the conservation-adoption realm. While previous studies have explored farmers’ perceptions of crop advisers facilitating conservation practice adoption and participating in conservation programs in agricultural landscapes, little research to date has explored crop advisers’ perceptions of this role, and few agricultural land use policies have explicitly included crop advisers as conservation partners. This study fills a critical void in the literature by evaluating the Saginaw Bay Regional Conservation Partnership Program, an innovative agricultural policy that relies on crop advisers to recruit farmers into the program and assist them with the adoption of conservation practices. Through a survey and interviews with crop advisers in the Saginaw Bay watershed in Michigan, USA, we explore crop advisers’ perceptions of their role in the program and of delivering conservation information to farmers. We found that crop advisers have positive attitudes towards land/water resources and conservation practices, believe they have an important intermediary role to play in facilitating conservation practice adoption, and believe their supervisors are supportive of them promoting conservation. However, difficulties in collaboration and communication between the private and governmental sectors – resulting from perceived differences, operational differences, and territoriality – present a key barrier to crop advisers increasing their intermediary role in the promotion and implementation of federal conservation programs. Future research and policy initiatives should explore how to address public-private territoriality and whether crop advisers should be incentivized to deliver information about conservation practices and/or assist in enrolling farmers in federal conservation programs.

New species, records, and immature stages of Chimarra Stephens (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae) from Campos Amazônicos National Park, northern Brazil.

Campos Amazônicos National Park is a federal conservation unit that contains part of the largest Cerrado refuge in the southern part of Brazilian Amazonia. Recently, during a survey of aquatic insects in the park, specimens of the caddisfly genus Chimarra were collected. The primary objective of this paper, as a result of this effort, is to describe and illustrate the male adult of a new species in Chimarra (Chimarrita), Chimarra singularis sp. nov., and the immature stages of Chimarra usitatissima Flint 1971. Additionally, the distributions of C.(Chimarrita) akantha Blahnik 1997 and C. (Curgia) jugescens Flint 1998 are extended to the southern part of Amazonas state, and C. (Chimarrita) heppneri Blahnik 1997 is recorded for the first time in northern Brazil.

Local varieties of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze (Pinales: Araucariaceae) in southern Brazil: A brief discussion about landscape domestication

A Araucária é uma espécie emblemática da Floresta Ombrófila Mista – FOM. O comércio do “pinhão”, sua semente, é economicamente relevante para grupos regionais, influenciando no manejo e uso da espécie. As populações da espécie foram historicamente manipuladas pela ação humana, que identificam variedades locais, caracterizando certo grau de domesticação da espécie e da paisagem. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi identificar essas variedades, caracterizar o uso e manejo do “pinhão” em comunidades locais circundantes ao Parque Nacional de São Joaquim – PNSJ, e discutir interações homem-plantas que possam ser relevantes na estruturação de paisagens culturais domesticadas. Aplicamos questionários semi-estruturados a quinze agricultores-extratores no entorno do PNSJ. Realizando turnês guiadas, montamos nove parcelas de 1600 m2 para coleta de dados populacionais da Araucária. Nos questionários, quatro variedades foram citadas: “Cajuvá”, “Macaco”, “Do cedo” e “Do tarde” além de duas variedades identificadas nas turnês-guiadas (N=52). Todos entrevistados afirmaram usar, direta/indiretamente, o “pinhão”, além de citarem variedades que conhecem e/ou manejam na FOM, evidenciando processo de domesticação. A conservação da Araucária pode ser favorecida ao considerar populações humanas locais que usam e manejam os recursos dessa espécie, fortalecendo sua conservação ao nível de paisagens manejadas junto às Unidades de Conservação do estado.

The Impact of Federal and State Conservation Programs on Farmer Nitrogen Management.

The U.S. federal government, as well as many state and local governments, operate a number of conservation programs aimed at ameliorating the environmental problems associated with agriculture. While motives and barriers to conservation program participation and adoption of conservation practices have been extensively studied, the direct impacts of programs on ongoing farm operations remains underexplored. To examine the effects of conservation programs on nitrogen management, an aspect of crop production with significant environmental impacts we conducted interviews with 154 corn producers in three Midwestern U.S. states with a range of program experiences. We found that programs shifted farmer N management behavior through three social processes: (1) engaging farmers in the conservation system by introducing them to the state and federal conservation agencies, (2) incentivizing trialing of specific N management practices, and (3) increasing practice adoption through continued program engagement. Working-lands programs were far more effective at shifting on-farm nutrient management practices than land retirement, certification, or outreach-based programs, though all programs had the indirect benefit of increasing farmer familiarity with conservation agencies and programs. Working-lands programs directly motivated practice adoption; including soil testing regimes, implementing nutrient management plans, and splitting nitrogen applications to improving availability; by reducing producer risk and providing technical assistance, especially whole-farm planning. The additional benefits of all programs were moderated by participant selection bias, in particular that program participants were more predisposed to conservation efforts by existing stewardship and innovation attitudes.