Optimizing the use of endangered species in multi-population collection, captive breeding and release programs

Heinrichs, Julie A.; McKinnon, Donald T.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Moehrenschlager, Axel

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00558

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…For threatened species, removal of individuals from the wild for reintroduction projects or to create a captive population could compromise the source population both due to the loss of the individuals extracted and because the population becomes more vulnerable to stochastic events (Margalida et al, 2015;Heinrichs et al, 2018;Heinrichs et al, 2019). The simulations presented here offer sufficient evidence to assist managers and policy-makers to adopt the most rigorous and effective management measures for the restoration of European Bearded Vulture populations, without undue harm to the source population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Prioritizing among removal scenarios for the reintroduction of endangered species: insights from bearded vulture simulation modeling

Colomer

Oliva‐Vidal

Jímenez

et al. 2019

Animal Conservation

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Translocations are an increasing feature of threatened species conservation plans, but the impact of removal of individuals on the source population is seldom studied. Using computational Population Dynamics P System models and the Pyrenean Bearded Vulture population as a case study we looked at: the effect on the source population of alternative strategies for removal of individual birds for use in reintroduction projects; and the trade‐offs between the various management options. According to our models (over a 30 year prediction horizon) the removal of one clutch, juvenile or non‐territorial adult each year over an 11 year period, results in an annual loss of 1.57, 3.71 and 0.97 territories, respectively. We forecast the impact of a plausible removal scenario for the Pyrenees source population (the removal of five clutches and five non‐territorial adults each year over 11 years), leading to a predicted loss of 16 breeding territories. Nevertheless, changes in demographic parameters, mainly in productivity and adult survival, could substantially affect these predicted results. With the current demographic parameters, the removal scenarios that were estimated to not affect population size after 30 years (95% CI) are limited to: (1) the removal of five clutches and five non‐territorial adults during a single year; (2) the annual removal of five non‐territorial adults during a 6 year period; and (3) the annual removal of five clutches during a 6 year period. Our results suggest that removals from the Pyrenean Bearded Vulture source population should be performed with caution due to uncertainties arising from stochastic changes in survival and productivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Prioritizing among removal scenarios for the reintroduction of endangered species: insights from bearded vulture simulation modeling

Colomer

Oliva‐Vidal

Jímenez

et al. 2019

Animal Conservation

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“…As Caucasian grouse populations are currently highly fragmented and spread across several countries, designing a transboundary protected area network, including corridors, should therefore be a conservation priority. Where corridors are not enough, assisted colonization, duly considering the ethical, policy, and scientific challenges related to the this conservation measure (Schwartz et al, 2012), and reintroductions using captive‐bred individuals from the rear‐edge populations can be viable options (Heinrichs, McKinnon, Aldridge, & Moehrenschlager, 2019). Importantly, facilitating the range shift of the rear‐edge populations would make important contributions to helping the core population to better cope with the warmer climates they will face soon.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rear‐edge populations are important for understanding climate change risk and adaptation potential of threatened species

Habibzadeh

Ghoddousi

Bleyhl

et al. 2021

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Climate change disproportionately threatens alpine species, by reducing available habitat and by isolating their populations. These pressures are particularly relevant for rear-edge populations, which typically occupy more marginal habitat compared to populations at the core of species' ranges. We studied Caucasian grouse Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi in the Caucasus ecoregion, a global biodiversity hotspot where this species is endemic, to understand potential climate change impacts on the species. Specifically, we assessed how climate change impacts rear-edge populations and how important these populations are for understanding range shifts and adaptive capacity under climate change. We used maximum entropy modeling to assess changes in the distribution of climatically suitable habitat under present and 2070 climate conditions for the representative concentration pathways 8.5 (RCP8.5). Our results revealed that ignoring rear-edge populations leads to a significant underestimation of the future range (by about 14,700 km 2). Rear-edge populations were better adapted to warmer climates compared to core populations, and ignoring them, therefore, also underestimates adaptive capacity. Preventing the loss of rear-edge populations should, therefore, be a priority for conservation planning in the face of climate change. Because the Caucasian grouse is associated with alpine mountain tops, conservation should focus on establishing connectivity between rear-edge and core populations (e.g., via transboundary corridors or assisted colonizations). Our study reveals how species distribution modeling can highlight the importance of rear-edge populations for mitigating climate change impacts on species of conservation concern.

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“…Yet, with an adaptive management framework, conservation breeding practitioners can continually adjust and refine decisions as new information becomes available. Specifically, by recording and analyzing detailed data on reproductive outcomes, as well as their potential drivers, practitioners can take a scientific approach to guide and adapt management decisions for their unique programs (Heinrichs et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of pair duration on reproductive success in the monogamous ‘Alalā (Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis)

Barrett,

Flanagan,

Masuda

et al. 2024

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Conservation breeding program practitioners select potential mates in an attempt to maximize pair compatibility and maintain genetic diversity. Therefore, pair duration, or the number of breeding seasons that individuals retain the same mate, is practitioner-determined in these settings. There is a critical need to evaluate whether pair duration influences reproductive success in ex situ assurance populations, particularly for socially monogamous species. The ‘Alalā (Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis) is a monogamous forest bird that is currently extinct in the wild. Today, ‘Alalā exist only in human care for intensive conservation breeding. We analyzed breeding program data from 2018-2021 to determine the effects of ‘Alalā pair duration and age on reproduction (nest building, egg laying, hatching, and fledging). We found that pair duration does not influence reproductive outcomes, and thus practitioners can be more proactive when re-pairing birds. Female and male age, on the other hand, influenced the probability of nest building, clutch production, and overall reproductive success. Nest building and clutch production probabilities were high (near 1) and stable as females aged from 2 to ~ 12 years old, declining sharply thereafter. In males, overall reproductive success (from building robust nests to rearing at least one nestling to fledge) increased with age from 2 to ~ 9 years old, peaked and reached an asymptote with males ≳ 9 to ~ 13 years old, and decreased in males ≳ 13 years old. Thus, integrating age into the pair selection process will increase the likelihood of achieving conservation goals. To our knowledge, we are the first to utilize empirical pair duration results to provide specific management recommendations for mate selection in an avian conservation breeding program. Our findings have critical utility for guiding ‘Alalā pairing decisions, and more broadly underscore the importance of evaluating mate retention and selection protocols in other conservation breeding programs.

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Optimizing the use of endangered species in multi-population collection, captive breeding and release programs

Cited by 10 publications

References 21 publications

Prioritizing among removal scenarios for the reintroduction of endangered species: insights from bearded vulture simulation modeling

Prioritizing among removal scenarios for the reintroduction of endangered species: insights from bearded vulture simulation modeling

Rear‐edge populations are important for understanding climate change risk and adaptation potential of threatened species

The influence of pair duration on reproductive success in the monogamous ‘Alalā (Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis)

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