Conservation biology: Reflecting the past

Marris, Emma

doi:10.1038/462030a

Cited by 36 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…For example, arguments for Pleistocene rewilding in North America rely on analogies to the African savanna, hypothesizing that large herbivores in temperate grasslands would once have performed similar roles in controlling woody vegetation to those carried out by ungulates and proboscidians in Africa today (Donlan et al 2005, 2006, Zimov 2005. Our intention is not to be critical of these studies, and we agree with Stuart Pimm (Marris 2009 ) that when evaluating taxon substitutes in cases with limited baseline data, our natural desire for replication and controls may need to be rethought. However, in cases where ecological functionality of substitute taxa can be measured with replication and controls, it is clearly desirable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Ecological equivalency as a tool for endangered species management

Searcy

Rollins

Shaffer³

2016

Ecological Applications

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The use of taxon substitutes for extinct or endangered species is a controversial conservation measure. We use the example of the endangered California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense; CTS), which is being replaced by hybrids with the invasive barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium), to illustrate a strategy for evaluating taxon substitutes based on their position in a multivariate community space. Approximately one-quarter of CTS's range is currently occupied by "full hybrids" with 70% nonnative genes, while another one-quarter is occupied by "superinvasives" where a specific set of 3/68 genes comprising 4% of the surveyed genome is nonnative. Based on previous surveys of natural CTS breeding ponds, we stocked experimental mesocosms with field-verified, realistic densities of tiger salamander larvae and their prey, and used these mesocosms to evaluate ecological equivalency between pure CTS, full hybrids, and superinvasives in experimental pond communities. We also included a fourth treatment with no salamanders present to evaluate the community effects of eliminating Ambystoma larvae altogether. We found that pure CTS and superinvasive larvae were ecologically equivalent, because their positions in the multivariate community space were statistically indistinguishable and they did not differ significantly along any univariate community axes. Full hybrids were ecologically similar, but not equivalent, to the other two genotypes, and the no-Ambystoma treatment was by far the most divergent. We conclude that, at least for the larval stage, superinvasives are adequate taxon substitutes for pure CTS and should probably be afforded protection under the Endangered Species Act. The proper conservation status for full hybrids remains debatable.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Ecological equivalency as a tool for endangered species management

Searcy

Rollins

Shaffer³

2016

Ecological Applications

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“…Within cultural landscapes, high deer populations may in fact align with societal values (e.g. Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands, Marris, 2009). Implementing deer population control is also often controversial and thus requires a high degree of political will (Porter and Underwood, 1999;Finch and Baxter, 2007;Hobbs, 2009).…”

Section: Maintaining Recovery After Deer Cullingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Slow responses of ecosystems to reductions in deer (Cervidae) populations and strategies for achieving recovery

Tanentzap

Kirby

Goldberg

2012

Forest Ecology and Management

104

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“…Sea eagles are known to be sensitive to, for example, limited resource availability, climate change and poor habitat configuration, but also to frequent human disturbance, which can cause breeding failures (Buehler et al 1991a; McGarigal et al 1991; Grubb et al 1992; Grim and Kallemeyn 1995; Steidl and Anthony 2000; Bowerman et al 2005; Watts et al 2008). To facilitate the return of sea eagles as an indigenous species in The Netherlands, impacts of toxic and non-toxic stress have to be integrated, quantified and assessed at population level endpoints (Sibly et al 2005; Marris 2009). So far, most quantitative studies focussed on the impacts of single stressors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the impact of toxic and disturbance stress on white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) populations

et al. 2011

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Several studies have related breeding success and survival of sea eagles to toxic or non-toxic stress separately. In the present investigation, we analysed single and combined impacts of both toxic and disturbance stress on populations of white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), using an analytical single-species model. Chemical and eco(toxico)logical data reported from laboratory and field studies were used to parameterise and validate the model. The model was applied to assess the impact of ∑PCB, DDE and disturbance stress on the white-tailed eagle population in The Netherlands. Disturbance stress was incorporated through a 1.6% reduction in survival and a 10–50% reduction in reproduction. ∑PCB contamination from 1950 up to 1987 was found to be too high to allow the return of white-tailed eagle as a breeding species in that period. ∑PCB and population trends simulated for 2006–2050 suggest that future population growth is still reduced. Disturbance stress resulted in a reduced population development. The combination of both toxic and disturbance stress varied from a slower population development to a catastrophical reduction in population size, where the main cause was attributed to the reduction in reproduction of 50%. Application of the model was restricted by the current lack of quantitative dose–response relationships between non-toxic stress and survival and reproduction. Nevertheless, the model provides a first step towards integrating and quantifying the impacts of multiple stressors on white-tailed eagle populations.

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Conservation biology: Reflecting the past

Abstract: Emma Marris writes for Nature from Columbia, Missouri.

Cited by 36 publications

References 3 publications

Ecological equivalency as a tool for endangered species management

Ecological equivalency as a tool for endangered species management

Slow responses of ecosystems to reductions in deer (Cervidae) populations and strategies for achieving recovery

Modelling the impact of toxic and disturbance stress on white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) populations

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