Use of wild–caught individuals as a key factor for success in vertebrate translocations

Rummel, Lisa; Martínez‐Abraín, Alejandro; Mayol, Jorge; Mañas, Francisco José Martín de Santa Olalla; Jiménez, Joaquín Ruiz; Gómez, J. A.; Oró, David Pere Martínez

doi:10.32800/abc.2016.39.0207

Cited by 28 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Post-release effects (Armstrong & Reynolds, 2012) result in reduced survival during the acclimation phase, and can vary depending on age, sex, behavior and source population (Armstrong et al, 2017). Captive-bred animals generally fare worse than wild-born counterparts after release (Letty, Marchandeau & Aubineau, 2007;Rummel et al, 2016). Yet captive-bred animals may be an essential resource if wildborn individuals are unavailable or if the viability of remnant populations would be unacceptably compromised by extraction of animals for translocation (Todd, Jenkins & Bearlin, 2002;Todd & Linterman, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing release strategies: a stepping‐stone approach to reintroduction

Lloyd¹,

Hostetter

Jackson³

et al. 2018

Animal Conservation

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Evaluation of alternative management strategies enables informed decisions to accelerate species recovery. For reintroductions, post-release survival to reproductive age is a key parameter influencing population growth. Here, we trial a 'stepping-stone' method to maximize the success of captive-bred animals when the availability of more suitable wild-born release candidates is limited. Our approach makes use of relatively safe and established wild populations to prepare captive-bred individuals for eventual translocation to a final release destination, thus building resilience through establishment of multiple populations over time. We developed a novel multievent model integrating encounter history and biotelemetry data to evaluate reintroduction strategies for the critically endangered Vancouver Island marmot Marmota vancouverensis. We compared post-release survival of 176 individuals (52 wild-born, 47 captive-bred marmots released directly to destinations, and 77 captive-bred marmots released with a stepping-stone approach). Survival estimates to prime breeding-age (PBA), were then used to quantify expected success of potential release strategies. Our analysis indicates that post-release survival varies by source population and release method, as well as age, season, year, and years since release. Conditional on an objective of maximizing survival to PBA, our results suggest that using wild-born marmots for translocations as often as possible, and stepping-stone captive-bred marmots prior to final release, will result in the best outcomes. There was a 0.86 probability that survival to PBA was greater for captive-bred marmots released as yearlings using a stepping-stone approach (survival to PBA mode = 0.13, 95% CRI = 0.05-0.30) than for captive-bred animals that were directly released to destination sites as one-year-olds (survival to PBA mode = 0.04, 95% CRI = 0.01-0.24). Consequently, the stepping-stone approach yields much higher population establishment or growth potential than previous release strategies that used captive-bred marmots. Optimizing the combination of release candidates, sites and timing can thereby increase the effectiveness of reintroductions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing release strategies: a stepping‐stone approach to reintroduction

Lloyd¹,

Hostetter

Jackson³

et al. 2018

Animal Conservation

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“…Translocations of G . aculeatus proved successful elsewhere [50, 85, 94]. Future studies will have to determine whether the low recapture at the stocking area within the Pego-Oliva Marsh Nature Reserve is due to dispersal through the surrounding wetland [15], to physiochemical constraints or even the use of captive bred individuals [94].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogeography and Conservation Genetics of the Ibero-Balearic Three-Spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

et al. 2017

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Genetic isolation and drift may imperil peripheral populations of wide-ranging species more than central ones. Therefore, information about species genetic variability and population structure is invaluable for conservation managers. The Iberian populations of three-spined stickleback lie at the southwestern periphery of the European distribution of Gasterosteus aculeatus. This teleost is a protected species in Portugal and Spain and local extinctions have been reported in both countries during the last decades. Our objectives were (i) to determine whether the Iberian populations of G. aculeatus are unique or composed of any of the major evolutionary lineages previously identified and (ii) to assess the evolutionary potential of these peripheral populations. We genotyped 478 individuals from 17 sites at 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci to evaluate the genetic variability and differentiation of the Ibero-Balearic populations. We also sequenced 1,165 bp of the mitochondrial genome in 331 of those individuals in order to complement the estimates of genetic diversity in the Ibero-Balearic region. We predicted the evolutionary potential of the different sites analysed based on the contribution of each of them to total allelic/mitochondrial diversity. An intraspecific phylogeny at European level was reconstructed using our data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (755 bp) and published sequences. The so-called Transatlantic, European and Mediterranean mitochondrial lineages were found to be present in the Ibero-Balearic region. Their phylogeography suggests a history of multiple colonisations. The nuclear results show, however, a strong correlation between population structure and drainage system. The following basins should be prioritised by conservation policies in order to preserve those populations with the highest evolutionary potential: the Portuguese Vouga and Tagus as well as the Spanish Majorca and Limia. Maintenance of their connectivity, control of exotic species and monitoring of habitat properties are strongly recommended in those areas. Genetic variation alone cannot, however, ensure the persistence of these peripheral southern populations of G. aculeatus. On the one hand, the analysis of a historical sample from Eastern Spain (Penyscola) revealed no genetic erosion, which suggests a fairly sudden extinction of that population. On the other hand, the reintroduction program implemented in the Valencian Community has mostly failed despite our finding of similar level of genetic diversity between the wild source and the captive-bred released individuals.

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“…The chosen animals must be registered in the International Studbook and recommended for breeding by EEP. Captive-bred animals generally fare worse than wild-born counterparts after release (�harkikh & Yasynetska, 2005;Letty et al, 2007;Rummel et al, 2016). Until 2015, there were no large nature (semi-)reserves for wild horses Przewalski's horses in Russia.…”

Section: Selection Of Foundersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Initial Stage of the Development of the Semi-Free Population of the Przewalski’s Horse in the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Russia)

Bakirova¹,

Zharkikh²,

Bulgakov³

2019

Nat. Conserv. Res.

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totally fenced to prevent the escape of Przewalski's horses from the strictly protected area. A Reintroduction Centre was constructed inside the fenced area. The Centre consists of perma-. A Reintroduction Centre was constructed inside the fenced area. The Centre consists of permanent acclimatisation enclosures for horses, touristic infrastructure and a house for personnel (the ranger-station). All the work with Przewalski horses in the Pre-Urals Steppe are financed from the federal budget on permanent basis. A total of 36 Przewalski's horses were brought to the Pre-Urals Steppe from the Association pour le Cheval de Przewalski: TAKH, France, and the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary in 2015-2017. The horses were kept in the enclosures for about one year or more before being released into the main area. In March 2019, there were two free-roaming harems in the Pre-Urals Steppe. A third harem and a bachelor group are still kept in acclimatisation enclosures. One foal and six foals were born in 2016 and 2018 accordingly. The foaling rate was 50� in 2018. One of the imported harem stal-foals were born in 2016 and 2018 accordingly. The foaling rate was 50� in 2018. One of the imported harem stallions is probably infertile, despite the fact that he was many times observed mating his females and in general, demonstrating normal sexual behaviour. The mortality of the imported Przewalski's horses is 8.3�; foal mortality totals 28.6�. There are 38 Przewalski's horses (16 males and 22 females) in the Pre-Urals Steppe area on 31 March 2019. The personnel of the Reintroduction Centre examine the whole Przewalski's horse population regularly. They identify the animals and watch their body condition and behaviour. The location of each free-roaming group is recorded with a GPS navigator. Any changes in the composition of the groups are recorded. Faeces are collected from each individual monthly for calculating parasite eggs in the samples. Every year a reserve stock of hay to feed the Przewalski's horses in the Pre-Urals Steppe is made to pass potential natural disaster such as severe drought, a snowy winter and/or heavy icing. Various scientific research including both Przewalski's horses and other components of local ecosystems are conducted in the Pre-Urals Steppe. The initial stage of the Programme has been successfully completed.

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Use of wild–caught individuals as a key factor for success in vertebrate translocations

Cited by 28 publications

References 28 publications

Optimizing release strategies: a stepping‐stone approach to reintroduction

Optimizing release strategies: a stepping‐stone approach to reintroduction

Phylogeography and Conservation Genetics of the Ibero-Balearic Three-Spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

The Initial Stage of the Development of the Semi-Free Population of the Przewalski’s Horse in the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Russia)

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