An assessment of scientific approaches towards species relocations in Australia

Abstract

Species relocation programmes are increasingly performed with the intention of establishing a selfsustaining population of threatened or declining native species. However, the use of experimental quantitative approaches in species relocation programmes is still relatively uncommon, despite a number of international studies recommending clear guidelines and standards. This paper evaluates species relocation programmes conducted within Australia to assess how programmes performed in relation to such standards. The search techniques identified 54 species relocation programmes, the majority of which were reintroductions (52%) and supplementations (30%). Only 25 (46%) of the species relocation programmes claimed success, with a lack of effective predator control recognized as contributing to the failure of 14 programmes. There was considerable variation in the quality of species relocation programmes in relation to key features such as whether the programme integrated experimental approaches with testable hypotheses, whether there were explicit statements of criteria for success, whether suitable habitat was identified for the release site and whether long-term monitoring was conducted. We propose guidelines to improve scientific rigour and success rates of species relocation programmes.

An integrated approach for assessing translocation as an effective conservation tool for Hawaiian monk seals

“…To be designed effectively, translocation programs should include thorough pre-release planning and post-release monitoring, such as conducting health screening, assessing habitat quality at the release location, and tracking animals immediately after release and longterm (Wolf et al 1996, IUCN 1998, Mathews et al 2006. Many programs, however, fail to assess one or more of these factors that can influence success, and until recently, few translocation studies implemented robust post-release monitoring or experimental approaches with testable hypotheses (Griffith et al 1989, Dodd & Seigel 1991, Wolf et al 1996, Fischer & Lindenmayer 2000, Sheean et al 2012. Translocations have been applied widely, with varying levels of success, to reduce the risk of extinction for a variety of threatened and endangered avian, terrestrial mammal, and reptilian species (e.g.…”

Conserving Australia's predator-threatened mammals

“…Many translocation attempts end in failure (Finlayson et al 2010, Sheean et al 2012, highlighting an urgent need to understand the causes of success and failure so that translocation outcomes can be improved. Recognition that habitat suitability is crucial to translocation outcome (Delroy et al 1986) has galvanised efforts to assess habitat quality prior to translocation attempts taking place.…”

“…Recent reviews have summarised these publications in an attempt to identify common causes of successes and failures (Clayton et al 2014, Fischer and Lindenmayer 2000, Seddon et al 2005, Seddon et al 2007, Armstrong and Seddon 2008, Sheean et al 2012, Armstrong et al 2015. Costs of reintroductions are seldom reported, but often run into the millions of dollars (Miller et al 1999, Fischer andLindenmayer 2000).…”

“…The success of reintroductions of species sensitive to predation is typically lower still , Finlayson et al 2010. Progress in understanding why many reintroductions fail is perhaps most hindered by a lack of monitoring and reporting of both successful and failed reintroduction attempts, and the current lack of a universally applicable definition of success , Sheean et al 2012. Current definitions are often based on the persistence of a population for a defined time period, while more rigorous definitions incorporate population growth rates and survival of progeny ).…”

“…A genetically diverse release population is therefore an important consideration for a successful reintroduction outcome. The final critical factor for reintroduction success is for the release to occur in suitable habitat (Delroy et al 1986, Seddon et al 2007, Sheean et al 2012. A priori habitat assessment through predictive distribution modelling has increasingly been adopted in an attempt to correctly identify suitable habitat (Murray et al 2008, Bateman et al 2011, Murray et al 2011.…”