Conservation, uncertainty and intellectual humility

Michaels, Sarah; Auld, Graeme; Cooke, Steven J; Young, Nathan; Bennett, Joseph R; Vermaire, Jesse C

doi:10.1017/s0376892923000176

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 54 publications

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“…Almost 40% of known vascular plants are currently threatened with extinction [46]. One of the challenges in conserva-tion decision-making is how to manage the interactions between what is known from the literature and what is not known [47]. This C. micronesica case study has emerged as an unsuccessful example in this regard, as members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Species Survival Council with international cycad conservation knowledge have been actively marginalized by empowered administrators, and actionable knowledge from the peer-reviewed literature has been actively ignored by funded practitioners [26].…”

Section: Lessons Learnedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insular Cycas micronesica Habitats Respond Similarly to Aulacaspis yasumatsui Invasion, Regardless of Co-Occurring Consumers

Marler,

Cruz

2023

Forests

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The natural distribution of Cycas micronesica includes three island groups. Damage to the widespread tree from the armored scale Aulacaspis yasumatsui was initiated with the 2003 invasion of Guam and the 2007 invasion of Rota. This herbivore has threatened the unique gymnosperm species with extinction. The number and identity of co-occurring consumers are dissimilar among disjunct insular subpopulations, and six of these habitats were used to assess tree mortality trends to confirm that A. yasumatsui stands alone as the greatest threat to species persistence. Following the initial infestation outbreak of this pest into each new subpopulation, the standing seedlings and saplings were the first to be culled, the juvenile plants were the next to be culled, and then the adult trees were killed more slowly thereafter. The timing of this plant population behavior did not differ among habitats with five other consumers, three other consumers, one other consumer, or no other consumers. We have shown that A. yasumatsui acting as the sole biotic threat in an isolated subpopulation can generate a decline in survival that is as rapid as when it is acting in conjunction with up to five other consequential consumers. This armored scale is the most acute threat to C. micronesica, and adding other specialist herbivores to the scale herbivory does not alter the speed and extent of initial plant mortality.

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Section: Lessons Learnedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insular Cycas micronesica Habitats Respond Similarly to Aulacaspis yasumatsui Invasion, Regardless of Co-Occurring Consumers

Marler,

Cruz

2023

Forests

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Reversing functional extinction: successful restoration of eradicated oyster reefs

McAfee,

McLeod,

Carruthers

et al. 2024

Restoration Ecology

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Functionally extinct ecosystems, those that have been locally eradicated save for remnant individuals, are unlikely to naturally recover over meaningful human time frames. However, ecosystem restoration provides opportunities to reverse functional extinction by rapidly addressing the physical and/or biological barriers that prevent natural recovery. Here, we assess the restoration progress of a native Flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) reef ecosystem in South Australia that was eradicated from the Australian mainland approximately 100 years ago. In the absence of any reference Flat oyster ecosystems in the region, restoration progress was assessed relative to ecological targets informed by a combination of local rocky reef ecosystems and an interim Flat oyster reference model informed by Australia's sole remaining O. angasi reef, in Tasmania. Two and half a years after the restoration was initiated via the construction of 14 boulder reefs, we observed densities of restored native adult O. angasi (192 ± 19 m−2; mean ± 1 SE) that exceeded oyster densities observed on the sole remaining natural reef. Communities of macroinvertebrates on the reef restoration represented approximately 60% of the biodiversity observed on healthy rocky reef reference systems, while ecological functions (e.g. filter feeding) are demonstrably increasing. The rate of recovery of this benthic ecosystem, from functionally extinct to a restored Flat oyster reef ecosystem within several years, demonstrates the latent resilience of degraded oyster communities and the capacity for effective marine restorations to achieve rapid ecological recoveries.

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Conservation, uncertainty and intellectual humility

Cited by 2 publications

References 54 publications

Insular Cycas micronesica Habitats Respond Similarly to Aulacaspis yasumatsui Invasion, Regardless of Co-Occurring Consumers

Insular Cycas micronesica Habitats Respond Similarly to Aulacaspis yasumatsui Invasion, Regardless of Co-Occurring Consumers

Reversing functional extinction: successful restoration of eradicated oyster reefs

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