Biological Conservation

As human influences fragment native communities and ecosystems, remaining land must be better managed to conserve many elements of biodiversity. Much of this land is privately held, yet traditional private land-use management practices often further diminish biodiversity by promoting favored or edge-adapted species.

Ethiopian shade coffee plantations are well documented to be bird-friendly and act as refuges for disappearing tree species. The extent to which these plantations support mammal conservation, as well as mammal sensitivity to coffee intensification, remain little studied. We studied the distribution and diversity of mammals under three coffee management systems of differing intensities (i.e., semi-forest, semi-plantation, and plantation) and in nearby natural forests in Belete-Gera Forest Priority Area, southwestern Ethiopia. We detected mammals using 30 infrared camera traps at 90 stations for a total of 4142 camera days. We used the Shannon-Wiener diversity index for diversity analysis, generalized linear mixed model for comparison of independent detection, and non-metric multidimensional scaling to show the mammalian community composition. We recorded 8815 digital videos and a total of 23 mammal species. The overall species richness, diversity, and detection of mammals did not differ between the two traditional shade coffee management systems and the natural forest but was lower in the plantation coffee system. The mammal community composition also shows variation in resilience to coffee management intensity, with primates appearing to be generally more tolerant to management intensification. We ultimately show that traditionally managed Ethiopian shade coffee farms shelter diverse mammal communities, comparable to those in nearby natural forests. Therefore, supporting traditional coffee management practices and certifying them as mammal-friendly should be implemented as strategies for the conservation of mammals, as natural forests continue to decline in Ethiopia.

neuropsychological evaluation showed that there was no difference between e4-positive and e4-negative groups in most cognitive domains such as attention, language, visuospatial function, and frontal/executive function. Significant differences, however, were found in several measures of memory domain such as SVLT recognition false-positive response (4.7 vs. 3.2, t(78)¼2.1, p < 0.05), RCFT delayed recall (1.1 vs. 2.5, t(76)¼2.1, p < 0.05), and RCFT recognition score (13.7 vs. 15.2, t(76)¼3.0, p < 0.01).

No conflicts of interest exist in the research and development of this poster Background:. The accurate quantification of CSF biomarkers is paramount in the development of AD drugs but measurement has varied due to handling and storage material characteristics. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate an assortment of CSF collection/storage materials in hopes of identifying those associated with the least amount of CSF beta amyloid (Aβ) loss.

Harvesting, consumption and trade of bushmeat are important causes of both biodiversity loss and potential zoonotic disease emergence. In order to identify possible ways to mitigate these threats, it is essential to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which bushmeat gets from the site of capture to the consumer's table. In this paper we highlight the previously unrecognized scale of hunting of the African straw-colored fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, a species which is important in both ecological and public health contexts, and describe the commodity chain in southern Ghana for its trade. Based on interviews with 551 Ghanaians, including bat hunters, vendors and consumers, we estimate that a minimum of 128,000 E. helvum bats are sold each year through a commodity chain stretching up to 400 km and involving multiple vendors. Unlike the general bushmeat trade in Ghana, where animals are sold in both specialized bushmeat markets and in restaurants, E. helvum is sold primarily in marketplaces; many bats are also kept by hunters for personal consumption. The offtake estimated in this paper raises serious conservation concerns, while the commodity chain identified in this study may offer possible points for management intervention. The separation of the E. helvum commodity chain from that of other bushmeat highlights the need for species-specific research in this area, particularly for bats, whose status as bushmeat is largely unknown.

The mitigation of conflicts associated with large carnivore damage to livestock and agriculture is pivotal to their conservation. We evaluate current programs to compensate and prevent large carnivore damage in 27 European countries and the factors related to the economic costs of these programs. Overall, high compensation costs are associated with free-ranging livestock (68% of total costs) and with national economic wealth. Contrary to general belief, the return of large carnivores does not always translate into higher compensation costs. We identify a tendency towards prioritizing compensation over prevention; only a few wealthy countries pay the majority of the money allocated for prevention programs to adapt husbandry practices to the presence of large carnivores. We conclude that programs mainly focused on paying large compensation amounts will often fail to build tolerance towards predators. To mitigate conflicts and optimize the cost-effectiveness of publicly funded measures, responsible agencies should be proactive, focus on prevention-based policies and periodically evaluate

The present conservation status of the endemic fleshwater fish of Spain is reviewed and compared with a former list made in 1986. Ten taxa (species and subspecies) are exclusively endemic to Spanish waters, 13 are lberian endemics (Spain and Portugal), while three other species are also found in neighbouring European (France and Italy) or African (Algeria) countries. Endemic species belong to the families Clupeidae (33% of the native taxa), Cyprinidae (87%), Cobitidae (100%) and Cyprinodontidae (100%). A greater part of the endemic fish fauna is threatened, since three taxa are endangered, five vulnerable, seven rare and two insufficiently known.

The abilities of species to use the matrix of modi®ed habitats surrounding forest fragments may aect their vulnerability in fragmented landscapes. We used long-term (up to 19-year) studies of four animal groups in central Amazonia to test whether species' abundances in the matrix were correlated with their relative extinction proneness in forest fragments. The four groups, birds, frogs, small mammals, and ants, had varying overall responses to fragmentation: species richness of small mammals and frogs increased after fragment isolation, whereas that of birds and ants decreased. For all four groups, a high proportion of nominally primary-forest species were detected in matrix habitats, with 8±25% of species in each group found exclusively in the matrix. The three vertebrate groups (birds, small mammals, frogs) exhibited positive and signi®cant correlations between matrix abundance and vulnerability to fragmentation, suggesting that species that avoid the matrix tend to decline or disappear in fragments, while those that tolerate or exploit the matrix often remain stable or increase. These results highlight the importance of the matrix in the dynamics and composition of vertebrate communities in tropical forest remnants, and have important implications for the management of fragmented landscapes. # 0006-3207/99/$ -see front matter # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. P I I : S 0 0 0 6 -3 2 0 7 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 8 0 -4

A comprehensive understanding of species phenological responses to global warming will require observations that are both long-term and spatially extensive. Here we present an analysis of the spring phenological response to climate variation of twelve taxa: six plants, three birds, a frog, and two insects. Phenology was monitored using standardized protocols at 176 meteorological stations in Japan and South Korea from 1953 to 2005, and in some cases even longer. We developed a hierarchical Bayesian model to examine the complex interactions of temperature, site effects, and latitude on phenology. Results show species-specific variation in the magnitude and even in the direction of their responses to increasing temperature, which also differ from site-to-site. At most sites the differences in phenology among species are forecast to become greater with warmer temperatures. Our results challenge the assertion that trends in one geographic region can be extrapolated to others, and emphasize the idiosyncratic nature of the species response to global warming. Field studies are needed to determine how these patterns of variation in species response to climate change affect species interactions and the ability to persist in a changing climate.

An important requirement for biologists conserving vulnerable species of wildlife and managing genetic problems associated with small population size is to evaluate existing evidence regarding what is known of a species' recent population history. For endemic island species in particular, current genetic impoverishment could be due to either a recent population crash or a consequence of an evolutionary history of sustained isolation and small effective population size. Interpreting any given case can often be further complicated by incomplete or contradictory evidence from historical field surveys that might suggest a very different demographic history. Here, we use the case of the Seychelles kestrel (Falco araea), an island endemic previously listed as critically-endangered but now relatively common, to illustrate how genetic data from microsatellite genotypes of 100-150-year-old museum specimens reveals a recent and severe population crash since the 1940s to approximately eight individuals, before the population recovered. We re-interpret the historical population trajectory of the Seychelles kestrel in the light of the minimal intervention required for this species to recover. We examine different ecological explanations for the decline and apparently unassisted recovery of the Seychelles kestrel, review the evidence for similarly unaided recoveries elsewhere and discuss the implications of unaided population recoveries for future species conservation programmes. Demographic profiles from historical genetic signatures can provide highly informative evidence when evaluating past and future recovery efforts for endangered species.

Over the past few decades, there has been a steep increase in the number of conservation-related field studies that measure glucocorticoid hormones (corticosterone or cortisol) as a marker for stress. Endocrine tools show great potential for informing conservation, however interpretation of results is often complicated. This paper reviews the role of glucocorticoids for non-physiologists, evaluates select applications of glucocorticoid measures to conservation field studies, and proposes a theoretical model to focus future research. Because levels of glucocorticoids typically increase in response to challenge and sometimes predict mortality or decrease reproduction, it is often assumed that high levels of glucocorticoids indicate stress. However, literature review suggests that glucocorticoid measures fail to change consistently in a predictable manner with adverse conditions and do not always show a linear correlation with survival or reproductive success. Inconsistencies relate in part to methodological problems but also have a physiological basis. We propose that relationships between (1) glucocorticoids and fitness and (2) glucocorticoids and disturbance may be more log quadratic rather than linear. We hope these models will be useful in generating predictions for future studies and resolving the inconsistencies that currently complicate interpretation for conservation endocrinologists.

We report the abundance, patterns of distribution and physical characteristics of Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) nests on Komodo Island in Indonesia. A total of 46 Komodo dragon nesting sites were identified, of these 26 nests were considered active for the 2002/2003 season. The distribution of nests coincided with large coastal valleys in northern Komodo Island. There was a significant preference by breeding females to utilize the mound nests (61%) over both open hillside (19.5%) and ground nests (19.5%). Further, within these mound nests, females discriminated for nests based on habitat characteristics, especially sunlight exposure. The main implications for management and conservation drawn from this study is that there is a small number of females nesting annually on the largest island within Komodo National Park. Further, continuation of nesting surveys could provide a cost effective accurate way to gather important long term demographic information on this species. #

The purposes of this study are to extract the names of species and places for a citizen-science monitoring program, to obtain crowd-sourced data of acceptable quality, and to assess the quality and the uncertainty of predictions based on crowd-sourced data and professional data. We used Natural Language Processing to extract names of species and places from text messages in a citizen science project. Bootstrap and Maximum Entropy methods were used to assess the uncertainty in the model predictions based on crowd-sourced data from the EnjoyMoths project in Taiwan. We compared uncertainty in the predictions obtained from the project and from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) field data for seven focal species of moth. The proximity to locations of easy access and the Ripley K method were used to test the level of spatial bias and randomness of the crowd-sourced data against GBIF data. Our results show that extracting information to identify the names of species and their locations from crowd-sourced data performed well. The results of the spatial bias and randomness tests revealed that the crowd-sourced data and GBIF data did not differ significantly in respect to both spatial bias and clustering. The prediction models developed using the crowd-sourced dataset were the most effective, followed by those that were developed using the combined dataset. Those that performed least well were based on the small sample size GBIF dataset. Our method demonstrates the potential for using data collected by citizen scientists and the extraction of information from vast social networks. Our analysis also shows the value of citizen science data to improve biodiversity information in combination with data collected by professionals.

In order to better understand the nature of disturbances to wintering snowy plovers, I observed snowy plovers and activities that might disturb them at a beach near Devereux Slough in Santa Barbara, California, USA. Disturbance (activity that caused plovers to move or fly) to wintering populations of threatened western snowy plovers was 16 times higher at a public beach than at protected beaches. Wintering plovers reacted to disturbance at half the distance ($ 40 m) as has been reported for breeding snowy plovers ( $80 m). Humans, dogs, crows and other birds were the main sources of disturbance on the public beach, and each snowy plover was disturbed, on average, once every 27 weekend min and once every 43 weekday min. Dogs off leash were a disproportionate source of disturbance. Plovers were more likely to fly from dogs, horses and crows than from humans and other shorebirds. Plovers were less abundant near trail heads. Over short time scales, plovers did not acclimate to or successfully find refuge from disturbance. Feeding rates declined with increased human activity. I used data from these observations to parameterize a model that predicted rates of disturbance given various management actions. The model found that prohibiting dogs and a 30 m buffer zone surrounding a 400 m stretch of beach provided the most protection for plovers for the least amount of impact to beach recreation. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

A long-term view of rare plant reintroduction Drawing on a literature review and survey questionnaires, explore how demographic, genetic, and ecological factors influence success rates in plant reintroductions and present valuable recommendations to improve plant reintroduction success. But we are concerned that the generally dismal picture they paint may erroneously be viewed by conservation practitioners, land managers, and policy makers as being broadly representative of reintroduction in general, causing hesitation or even dismissing reintroduction as a beneficial conservation tool.

Recently, a molecular phylogeny based on four mtDNA gene regions has been estimated for 17 species and subspecies of Aegla freshwater crabs from Chile. With this phylogenetic hypothesis and information on geographic distribution, environmental conditions, habitat requirements, and population abundance, Chilean aeglids were assessed for conservation status based on the criteria included in the IUCN Red List Categories (2001). Aegla concepcionensis and Aegla expansa qualify as ''Extinct in the Wild'' and nine other taxa fall within the threatened category: three as ''Critically Endangered'' (A. laevis laevis, A. papudo and A. spectabilis) and six as ''Vulnerable'' (A. alacalufi, A. bahamondei, A. cholchol, A. hueicollensis, A. laevis talcahuano and A. manni). Six hydrographic regions within temperate Chile were ranked for conservation priority using species richness, and phylogenetic and genetic diversity indices. The hydrographic region made up of the Tucapel, Imperial, and Tolte´n Basins was found to rank highest in terms of conservation priorities. Conservation of this region and the regions ranging between the Aconcagua and Mataquito Basins, and the Valdivia and Maullı´n Basins, would preserve almost all the Aegla diversity present in Chile.

There have been many attempts to classify geographic areas into zones of similar characteristics. Recent focus has been on ecoregions. We examined how well the boundaries of the most commonly used ecoregion classi®cations for the US matched the boundaries of existing vegetation cover mapped at three levels of classi®cation, ®ne, mid-and coarse scale. We analyzed ecoregions in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The results were similar among the two ecoregion classi®cations. For both ecoregion delineations and all three vegetation classi®cations, the patterns of existing vegetation did not correspond well with the patterns of ecoregions. Most vegetation types had a small proportion of their total area in a given ecoregion. There was also no dominance by one or more vegetation types in any ecoregion and contrary to our hypothesis, the level of congruence of vegetation patterns with ecoregion boundaries decreased as the level of classi®cation became more general. The implications of these ®...

Ecotourism is an important tool for biodiversity conservation in protected areas. However, high visitation rates and intensive public use can affect the wildlife. The present study aimed to evaluate vertebrate foraging in areas under different levels of human influence in the Tijuca National Park, a protected area within the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We used baits to attract vertebrates in areas with and without visitor facilities, at distances of 5, 35, and 100 meters from the road. We have analyzed the removal of bait by vertebrates in such treatments and identify higher consumption associated to greater human presence. The presence of visitors and visitor facilities (e.g., parking lots, barbecue pits, picnic tables, and playgrounds) significantly increases bait consumption. Park managers should consider the negative impacts of tourism on wildlife searching for ways to minimize them. RESUMO O ecoturismo é uma importante ferramenta para a conservação da biodivers...

The fen violet Viola persicifolia has decreased rapidly in Britain during the last century as a result of drainage and habitat destruction and it is now listed as an endangered species. Data are presented for five years' monitoring of populations existing under contrasting management regimes at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve. This is the beginning of a long-term study which aims to identify management regimes which will allow the retention of health), populations at Woodwalton, and which could be used to maintain or re-establish healthy populations elsewhere. The maintenance of open fen areas with .fen' competitive species is important for persistence of the fen violet. Natural disturbance ( e.g. from falling trees) and a high and fluctuating water table have probably provided this in the past. Annual grazing or mowing regimes may maintain open areas but also encourage competitive monocotyledons. * Present address: Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Agricultural Sciences Building, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, Great Britain. 203 Biol. Conserv. 0006-3207/87/$03"50

The little bustard Tetrax tetrax is a threatened grassland bird highly reliant on agro-ecosystems for survival. Understanding its habitat requirements throughout its yearly cycle is essential to promoting adequate management practices. A late summer, post-breeding habitat selection study was conducted at three sites located in Alentejo, in the south of Portugal. Overall, 48 flocks were counted. A highly-significant explanatory logistic model demonstrated that little bustard post-breeding sightings primarily occur in locations with greater food availability, adequate vegetation height, and more productive soils. Fallow land and areas grazed by sheep tend to be avoided. Additionally, the species abundance was estimated at 18 sites distributed among the specie's main range in Portugal, covering 67,000 ha and 971 km of car transects. Another 119 flocks were registered. Surprisingly, hardly any birds were found at priority breeding sites. Overall, the data suggest that important breeding populations of the little bustard dependent upon extensive agriculture within Iberia (generally where soils are less productive), are likely to depend on other areas with greater food availability during the dry summer season. Maintaining suitability of the habitat near important breeding areas with more productive soils could prevent further species movement in search of foraging areas and diminish mortality risk. At these sites, conservation efforts should focus on maintaining the landscape open and ensure the dominance of low intensity land uses with short vegetation, such as cereal stubbles or certain legume crops.

Our ability to demonstrate statistical patterns of invasion by non-native species will determine the success of future management projects. We investigated the suitability of self-organizing maps (SOM, neural network) for patterning habitat invasion by exotic fish species at the regional scale (Southwest France), using a binary dataset of species occurrences. The SOM visualization can be used as an analytical tool to bring out relationships between sample locations and biological variables, but in addition the weight of each species in the output of the SOM can be interpreted as its occurrence probability in various geographic areas. After training the SOM with fish presence/absence data, the k-means algorithm helped to derive three major clusters of sites (headwater, montane, and plain areas). Each cluster was divided into two subsets of sites according to non-native fish, because assemblage compositions delineated different geological areas: Pyrenees Mountains, Massif Central Moun...

Southern Norway holds the last remaining population of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Europe. Roads, railroads, and power lines have fragmented the original population into 26 separate herds. The reindeer populations are regulated directly according to availability of winter forage. These winter ranges, generally at lower elevations, are however, often subjected to development. Effects of infrastructure and associated human activity on the distribution of wild reindeer during winter were investigated in the Nordfjella mountain region of western Norway. Systematic aerial surveys of the distribution of ca. 2500 reindeer were conducted during late winter 1986-1998. Areas within 2.5 km from power lines were used less than available in 6 of the 8 sampling years, and areas beyond this zone more than expected. Density of reindeer was 79% lower within 2.5 km from power lines compared with background areas, and increased with increasing distance from infrastructure for comparable habitat. Available forage in terms of lichen cover declined 15-30-fold with distance, and was lowest in the undisturbed areas with the highest density of grazing animals. Areas within 5 km from resorts or from roads and power lines in combination were avoided in all years. Continued construction of roads, power lines and cabin resorts endanger these available winter ranges, and hence the long term survival of the population. #

The current geographical distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus colony inhabiting the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Western Sahara-Mauritania) is described. Its distribution range has apparently not changed since surveys conducted in 1984–1988. Sightings of adults on the Tarf el Guerguerat coast, 20 km north of the known breeding caves, suggests the existence of other possible breeding groups further north. Two caves used by the seals are described for the first time. A review of historical trends in cave occupation by seals made it possible (1) to locate the so-called ‘maternity cave’, last reported in 1949; and (2) to establish that the colony, since its discovery, has occupied at least eight caves, five of which have collapsed. An index of population size based on counts of individuals of identified morphological types indicates that, during 1993–1994, the colony was composed of c.113–165 individuals (excluding pups), a larger number than previously assumed. Counting of seals at times of maximum haul-out is proposed as a tool to monitor population trends, although it is considered unreliable for estimating absolute numbers.

Kunzea sinclairii is a local endemic on Great Barrier Island, northeastern New Zealand. While variously ranked as vulnerable and endangered in the past, we show that this species is naturally uncommon and under no threat of extinction. Previous assessments of its conservation status have been based on inadequate knowledge of its ecology. K. sinclairii is a rupestral species whose optimum habitat is low shrubland on rhyolitic rock outcrops and cliffs. Because of past logging and burning of forest adjacent to the habitat to which it is adapted, K. sinclairii expanded its range. However, in regeneration back to forest, K. sinclairii is being excluded as it is overtopped by other species. This has led to the impression that it is declining. Similarly, a suggestion that K. sinclairii could be threatened by hybridisation with the more abundant closely related K.ericoides is not supported as the hybrids are confined to the disturbed sites created by logging and fire. This case study highlights the importance of having a good understanding of the ecology of uncommon plant species before making decisions on their conservation. Natural rarity does not itself necessarily equate with increased extinction risk and these taxa should not be classified as threatened. #

The $26 definitions of species often yield different numbers of species and disparate groupings, with financial, legal, biological and conservation implications. Using conservation genetic considerations, we demonstrate that different species concepts have a critical bearing on our ability to conserve species. Many species of animals and plants persist as small isolated populations suffering inbreeding depression, loss of genetic diversity, and elevated extinction risks. Such small populations usually can be rescued by restoring gene flow, but substantial genetic drift effects can lead them to be classified as distinct species under the diagnostic phylogenetic species concept. Minimum harm to fitness is done and maximum potential fitness and evolutionary potential benefits accrue when reproductive isolation (pre-and/or post-zygotic) is used as the criterion to define distinct species. For sympatric populations, distinct species are diagnosed by very limited gene flow. For allopatric populations, both minimal gene flow and evidence of reduced reproductive fitness in crosses (or effects predicted from adaptive differentiation among populations and/or fixed chromosomal differences) are required to satisfy conservation issues. Species delineations based upon the biological and differential fitness species concepts meet the above requirements. Conversely, if species are delineated using the diagnostic phylogenetic species concept, genetic rescue of small genetically isolated populations may require crosses between species, with consequent legal and regulatory ramifications that could preclude actions to prevent extinction. Consequently, we conclude that the diagnostic phylogenetic species concept is unsuitable for use in conservation contexts, especially for classifying allopatric populations.

We assessed the impact of domestic cats on population persistence of native and exotic urban bird populations using a model adjusted for habitat-specific catch rates, cat ownership and hunting activity data. GPS-derived home ranges of 32 cats and resource selection indices demonstrated the degree of penetration and preference for native vegetation fragments. Owners reported on prey brought back by 144 domestic cats in Dunedin, New Zealand, during 12 months. One third of cats never brought back prey, and 21% returned more than one item/month. Cats brought back a mean of 13.4 prey items/year (median = 4), with cats aged <1 year returning more prey than older cats. Birds were the most common prey, followed by rodents. Although cats penetrated adjacent vegetation fragments they did not catch more birds and preferred garden habitat, suggesting that predation pressure may be reduced in fragments. Cat home range size appears to be constrained by cat density while the number of birds caught depends on the density of available prey. Estimates of city-wide catch for six bird species were either more than total urban population size estimates or close to lower confidence intervals. Modelling of three species indicated low likelihood of population persistence with cat predation. The observed persistence of these prey species suggests a meta-population structure with urban populations acting as sinks with source populations located on the city fringe.

We present a novel method for calculating the opportunity costs to fishers from their displacement by the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs). We used a fishing community in Kubulau District, Fiji to demonstrate this method. We modelled opportunity costs as a function of food fish abundance and probability of catch, based on gear type and market value of species. Count models (including Poisson, negative binomial and two zero-inflated models) were used to predict spatial abundance of preferred target fish species and were validated against field surveys. A profit model was used to investigate the effect of restricted access to transport on costs to fishers. Spatial distributions of fish within the three most frequently sighted food fish families (Acanthuridae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae) varied, with greatest densities of Lutjanidae and Acanthuridae on barrier forereefs and greatest densities of Scaridae on submerged reefs. Modelled opportunity cost indicated that highest costs to fishers arise from restricting access to the barrier forereefs. We included our opportunity cost model in Marxan, a decision support tool used for MPA design, to examine potential MPA configurations for Kubulau District, Fiji Islands. We identified optimum areas for protection in Kubulau with: (a) the current MPA network locked in place; and (b) a clean-slate approach. Our method of modelling opportunity cost gives an unbiased estimate for multiple gear types in a marine environment and can be applied to other regions using existing species data.

A wide translocation program was conducted on neotropical fauna in French Guiana during the ®lling of a hydroelectric reservoir. Red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) were studied because available data on their behavior in undisturbed conditions provided the basis for behavioral comparison with translocated animals. A resident howler population was present in the selected release area, but population densities were severely reduced by previous strong hunting pressure. A post-release survey was conducted during 18 months using radio-tracking and visual observations of 16 females. Most radio-tagged females settled in a stable home range. All but one of the released troops split up but all the monitored females were thereafter re-observed with resident congeners, sometimes after a period of solitary living. Most of the behavioral characteristics of the translocated individuals corresponded to previous observations on undisturbed animals. It is concluded that the behavioral abilities of this species helped them to survive and settle in a new area. Population reinforcements or re-introduction of red howlers may therefore be conducted with a good probability of success. #

Bird mortality in fishing gear is a global conservation issue and it is recognised that bycatch in industrial longline and trawl fisheries threatens several seabird species. Little is known however about the effects of bycatch in small-scale gillnet fisheries on bird populations. Here we review 30 studies reporting bird bycatch in coastal gillnet fisheries in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea region in order to assess the magnitude of this problem and potential effects on bird populations. All species of diving birds that occur in the study region, including divers (loons), grebes, sea ducks, diving ducks, auks and cormorants, have been reported as dying in fishing nets. The cumulative bycatch estimate extracted from several localized studies providing such information, suggests that about 90,000 birds die in fishing nets annually, a number that is almost certainly a substantial underestimate. We conclude that it is likely that between 100,000 and 200,000 waterbirds are killed per year. Geographic and temporal patterns of bycatch generally matched species distribution and periods of presence. Also, bycatch rates varied depending on species' foraging technique and were influenced by net parameters and fishing depth. To evaluate effects of additive mortality on bird populations, we applied the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) concept to three species with the most extensive bycatch information. Agreeing with PBR assumptions we conclude that bycatch is a matter of concern for at least two of the three assessed species. We suggest that bycatch research in Europe and beyond should aim at unification of principles for bycatch assessment, setting new standards for the monitoring of waterbird populations so that vital rates and mortality data are recorded, and implementing quantifiable criteria for evaluating effects of fisheries bycatch. ut.ee (M. Vetemaa), [email protected] (B. Schirmeister), [email protected] (A. Stipniece), [email protected] (M. Dagys), [email protected] (M. van Eerden), [email protected] (S. Garthe).

Connectivity and dispersal are key components determining the persistence of fragmented populations. However, the assessment of dispersal rates and landscape factors affecting functional connectivity remains problematic for species living in small populations, even more so in stress-sensitive, rare or elusive species. In this study, we estimated current dispersal patterns in a regional population of the endangered capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) using a novel, parsimony-based application of pedigree analysis. In spring 2003 and 2008, we systematically collected non-invasive samples of this forest bird species in five local populations in the north-eastern Pre-Alps of Switzerland. Based on 11 nuclear microsatellites, we identified 86 unique genotypes over the two sampling periods and determined levels of genetic structure. We investigated the relative impact of topography and land use on functional population connectivity by comparing inter-individual genetic distance with GIS-derived least-cost path models representing different dispersal scenarios. Results show that local populations are connected by dispersers, suggesting occasional contemporary gene flow. Mountain ridges were found to hamper capercaillie dispersal, while, at odds with our hypothesis, neither a broad valley nor land use type notably affected gene flow. These results suggest that our study region represents a patchy metapopulation. Our study illustrates how pedigree analysis and landscape genetic methods can significantly contribute to the understanding of dispersal and connectivity in rare and elusive species.

RESUMO Este trabalho apresenta o perfil das RPPN localizadas no Planalto Paulistano. O estudo foi baseado em entrevistas aos proprietários de dez reservas privadas localizadas na zona oeste da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. A maioria das reservas foi criada com objetivos conservacionistas. Nove das reservas não possui qualquer instrumento de manejo. As principais ameaças enfrentadas pelas reservas foram: caça, incêndios, falta de recursos e apoio. O potencial das reservas na conservação da natureza poderia melhorar com a criação de uma rede de parcerias e com a formação de convênios para suprir as demandas de apoio e manejo adequado das reservas. ABSTRACT This work presents a profile of RPPN located in the São Paulo Atlantic Plateau. The study was based in interviews to the owners of ten private reserves located in the west portion of São Paulo City. Most of reserves were created for conservationist purposes. Nine of ten reserves have no management instruments. The main threats that the reserves are under were: hunt, fire, lack of resources and support. The conservation potential of the reserves could be improved with a net of partnerships and agreements to supply the needs for support and adequate management of the reserves.

Population viability analysis of the greater bilby Macrotis lagotis was conducted using the metapopulation model ALEX. ALEX was used to examine the effect of reintroduction configurations and potential manipulations on the extinction risk of the metapopulation. More specifically, the impact of patch separation, sporadic big rains and fire on population survival was investigated.