No description available.

Decision support systems (DSS) that integrate long-term duck population and land use data are currently being used to develop conservation programs on the Canadian prairies. However, understanding inter-relationships between ducks and other grassland bird species would greatly enhance program planning and delivery among various bird conservation initiatives. Therefore, to achieve these goals, grassland bird species richness and relative abundance were compared between areas of low, moderate and high predicted waterfowl breeding densities (strata) in the southern Missouri Coteau, Saskatchewan. Roadside point counts were conducted during spring 2001 and 2002, and habitats were delineated within 400 m radius of each point. More birds of more species were encountered in the high density waterfowl stratum when compared with low but species that tended to co-occur with ducks were primarily wetland-associated. Overall, duck and other grassland bird species richness and abundance were moderately correlated (0.69 > r > 0.37, all Ps < 0.05); strong positive correlations between priority species of conservation concern and northern pintails were not found. No difference in mean number of priority grassland species occurred among strata, but differences were found for both number of species and total birds detected among routes within strata. High duck density stratum was more heterogeneous, consisting of greater areas of forage, shrub, wetlands, and open water bodies whereas low stratum contained larger, more uniformly-shaped habitat patches and greater proportion of cropland. Ordination analyses revealed that most priority species occurred in grassland-dominated sites with lower shrub area and wetland density whereas most wetland-associated species, including ducks and 2 priority species (Wilsons phalarope and marbled godwit) inhabited cultivated areas with higher wetland density. Ducks and priority species generally did not co-occur at the stop-level in highly heterogeneous landscapes but suitable habitats for both groups may exist in near proximity. In homogeneous landscapes, ducks and other wetland-associated common species were less abundant because of limited number of suitable wetlands. To achieve these dual goals, conservation efforts should be focused in areas containing wetlands adjacent to contiguous tracts of native pasture.

Decision support systems (DSS) that integrate long-term duck population and land use data are currently being used to develop conservation programs on the Canadian prairies. However, understanding inter-relationships between ducks and other grassland bird species would greatly enhance program planning and delivery among various bird conservation initiatives. Therefore, to achieve these goals, grassland bird species richness and relative abundance were compared between areas of low, moderate and high predicted waterfowl breeding densities (strata) in the southern Missouri Coteau, Saskatchewan. Roadside point counts were conducted during spring 2001 and 2002, and habitats were delineated within 400 m radius of each point. More birds of more species were encountered in the high density waterfowl stratum when compared with low but species that tended to co-occur with ducks were primarily wetland-associated. Overall, duck and other grassland bird species richness and abundance were moderately correlated (0.69 > r > 0.37, all Ps < 0.05); strong positive correlations between priority species of conservation concern and northern pintails were not found. No difference in mean number of priority grassland species occurred among strata, but differences were found for both number of species and total birds detected among routes within strata. High duck density stratum was more heterogeneous, consisting of greater areas of forage, shrub, wetlands, and open water bodies whereas low stratum contained larger, more uniformly-shaped habitat patches and greater proportion of cropland. Ordination analyses revealed that most priority species occurred in grassland-dominated sites with lower shrub area and wetland density whereas most wetland-associated species, including ducks and 2 priority species (Wilsons phalarope and marbled godwit) inhabited cultivated areas with higher wetland density. Ducks and priority species generally did not co-occur at the stop-level in highly heterogeneous landscapes but suitable habitats for both groups may exist in near proximity. In homogeneous landscapes, ducks and other wetland-associated common species were less abundant because of limited number of suitable wetlands. To achieve these dual goals, conservation efforts should be focused in areas containing wetlands adjacent to contiguous tracts of native pasture.

In this thesis, I describe the behavioural ecology of an Australian passerine, the Southern Emuwren Stipiturus malachurus (Maluridae). The southern emu-wren is threatened in several parts of its range, and yet information on the species’ breeding biology, habitat use and mating system is lacking. These data are fundamental to effective conservation management. My research investigated the breeding behaviour and habitat ecology of a population of southern emu-wrens in Portland, Victoria, Australia, over three breeding seasons (2000/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03). also collected data pertaining to habitat use from populations located in Anglesea and Lower Glenelg National Park (Victoria, Australia). Southern emu-wrens commonly formed socially monogamous pair bonds, although cooperative breeding was observed for the first time in this species, where male offspring within several families delayed breeding to help raise younger siblings. Successful nests produced 1.8 fledglings on average, however, a nest had only a 56% chance of success during incubation and nestling phases. Nest failure was mainly attributed to depredation and snakes were identified as major nest predators. The slow breeding rate of the southern emu-wren is typical of a small passerine in the Southern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, adult mortality was unusually high. In one breeding season the adult population was reduced by 50%. The population recovered when individuals dispersed from the adjacent coastal heathland to fill territory vacancies. This highlights the vulnerability of populations to local catastrophe, and potential extinction if spatial separation of populations exceeds the species’ dispersal capacity.

Agriculture is arguably the greatest threat to tropical forest species. Conservation scientists disagree over the relative importance of two opposing strategies for minimising this threat: enhancing on-farm biodiversity, through wildlife-friendly farming practices, or sparing land for nature by using high-yielding farming methods on the smallest possible area to reduce the need to convert natural habitats. Previous theoretical work shows that understanding the relationship between population density and yield for individual species is crucial for determining whether one of these strategies, or a mixed strategy, will maximise their populations for a given food production target. In this thesis, I aim to identify what land-use strategy will permit increases in food production with least impact on species in the forest zone of Ghana. Farm-fallow mosaic landscapes with shifting cultivation and native canopy trees produced only around 15% as much food energy per hectare as the highest-yielding oil palm plantations. In farm mosaics where perennial tree crops dominate, food production and profits were higher, but did not reach those of oil palm plantations. I surveyed birds and trees in forest, farm mosaic, and oil palm plantation, and combined these data with information on yields to assess the likely consequences of plausible future scenarios of land-use change. My results provide evidence of a strong trade-off between wildlife value and agricultural yield. Species richness was high in low-yielding farming systems, but there was considerable turnover between these systems and forests, with widespread generalists replacing narrowly endemic forest-dependent species. Species most dependent on forest as a natural habitat, those with smaller global ranges and those of conservation concern showed least tolerance of habitat modification. For virtually all species, including even widespread generalists, future land-use strategies based on land sparing are likely to support higher populations of most species and minimise their risk of extinction compared to land-use strategies based on wildlife-friendly farming. If food production is to increase in line with Ghana‘s population growth, a combination of efforts to improve forest protection and to increase yields on current farmed land is likely to achieve this at least cost to forest species. Efforts to better protect forests, which require further restrictions on human use, might be most effective if they can be closely linked to support for farmers to improve their yields. In the long term however, this strategy will only delay and not avert biodiversity loss, unless global society can limit its consumption.

No description available.

1. O manejo da vida silvestre em matrizes antropizadas, fora de reservas naturais, é importante para melhorar a eficácia de esforços conservacionistas que visam proteger e restaurar a biodiversidade. Desta forma, é fundamental entender as características da matriz que aumentam a adequabilidade do habitat para as espécies remanescentes e também avaliar as respostas das espécies à práticas de manejo alternativas. 2. Neste estudo utilizamos uma abordagem de modelagem hierárquica, que leva em conta o efeito de falhas de detectabilidade das espécies, para estimar o efeito de práticas de manejo adotadas dentro de talhões de plantios de Eucalyptus sobre a ocupação de aves. Nossos modelos incorporam características sítio-específicas, como tipo de prática de manejo e o contexto da paisagem em que se inserem cada unidade amostral. Também incorpora características espécie-específicas, em particular à sensibilidade das espécies aos distúrbios e estrato de forrageio. 3. O principal fator associado a diferenças na ocupação de aves dentro de nossa área de estudo é o tipo de pratica de manejo. A presença de árvores nativas dispersas e de sub-bosque em estágio inicial de sucessão dentro dos talhões está associada com um aumento na proporção de espécies do pool regional capaz de ocupar a matriz silvicultural. O contexto da paisagem teve um efeito relativamente menor sobre a ocupação de aves na área de estudo. 4. Síntese e Aplicação. A ocupação de aves está associada positivamente ao aumento da complexidade estrutural dentro dos talhões de eucalipto, as espécies respondem a retenção de árvores nativas dispersas e a presença de sub-bosque. Gerenciadores interessados em aumentar o valor conservacionista de plantios de Eucalyptus para as aves deveriam preservar as arvores maduras e adotar práticas que estimulem a regeneração do sub-bosque durante o preparo do local e rotação do plantio. / 1. Managing for wildlife in human-dominated matrices outside natural reserves has great importance to improve the efficacy of conservation efforts aiming to protect and restore biodiversity. As such, it is critical to understand which features of the matrix that enhance habitat suitability to the remaining species and also to evaluate species responses to alternative management practices. 2. We used hierarchical modeling to estimate the effect of stand level management practices adopted in Eucalyptus plantations on bird occupancy while accounting for species detection failure. Our models incorporate site- specific traits, such as management practice type and the landscape context of each sampling unit. It also incorporates species specific-traits, particularly species sensitivity to disturbance and species foraging stratum. 3. The major factor associated with differences in bird occupancy within our study site is the management practice type. Scattered native trees and early successional stage understory within mature stands was associated with an increase in the proportion of bird species from the regional pool that was able to occupy the silvicultural matrix. Landscape context had a relatively minor effect on bird occupancy in our study area. 4. Synthesis and applications. Bird occupancy is positively associated with increasing spatial heterogeneity within eucalyptus stands with species responding to the retention of native scattered trees and understory presence. Managers interested in improving the conservation value of Eucalyptus plantations to birds should preserve some existing trees and adopt practices that trigger understory regeneration during site preparation and stand rotation.

Submitted by Lara Oliveira (lara@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-05-06T00:00:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AnyellePRE_DISSERT.pdf: 3332574 bytes, checksum: 6eba66f5232c1024161e4faadd9f882f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-05-16T12:04:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AnyellePRE_DISSERT.pdf: 3332574 bytes, checksum: 6eba66f5232c1024161e4faadd9f882f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-05-16T12:05:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AnyellePRE_DISSERT.pdf: 3332574 bytes, checksum: 6eba66f5232c1024161e4faadd9f882f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-16T12:05:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnyellePRE_DISSERT.pdf: 3332574 bytes, checksum: 6eba66f5232c1024161e4faadd9f882f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The increasing degradation of natural wetlands has led many shorebirds populations to use alternative or complementary habitats. The artificial salines are one of the most common alternative habitats used by shorebird to feed and rest in coastal areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the richness, composition, habitat use and seasonal variation of shorebirds species associated with the artificial salines of the Apodi-Mossoró Estuary, Brazilian semiarid. Between August 2012 and July 2016, fortnightly shorebirds Charadriiformes censuses were conducted (2 h duration) in an area of 145 ha of saline from this Estuary (04°57’S; 37°08’O), in periods of high and low tide. A cumulative total of 28,868 records of individuals of 19 species Charadriiformes were obtained during 192 censuses. The number of records of shorebirds per census in the summer (2nd fortnight of August to the first fortnight of March: 167.9 ± 16.9 records, mean ± SE, N = 112 censuses) was similar to that sighted in the winter (2nd fortnight of March to the 1st fortnight of August: 125.7 ± 11.4, N = 80) (U = 4221; p = 0.495). In the summer period, the number of shorebirds records per census did not vary between periods of high tide and low tide (U = 1280; p = 0.094). On the other hand, in the winter, the number of shorebird records at high tide was higher than at low tide (U = 501.5; p = 0.004). Comparing the use of microhabitats over the studied saline area, shorebirds were more frequent in the evaporation ponds (85% of total records), and less frequent in pumping (9%) and crystallization (6%) ponds. There was a significant difference in the number of records of individuals/ha (density), with the highest density of individuals per census in the evaporation ponds (H = 246; p < 0.0001). The evaporation and pumping ponds were used mainly for foraging (respectively 79% and 76% of the records by microhabitat) and the crystallization pond for resting (75%). Our results shows that the Apodi-Mossoró Estuary may be recognized as an important area for the conservation of migratory and resident Charadriiformes populations in the South America. The use of artificial salines of this Estuary by shorebirds as alternative habitats for feeding and resting makes important to implement a continuous environmental monitoring program in the salines in order to ensure the maintenance of species-specific ecological requirements and to avoid chemical contamination of these animals / A crescente degradação de áreas úmidas naturais tem levado muitas populações de aves limícolas a buscarem habitats alternativos ou complementares, sendo as salinas artificiais um dos locais mais utilizados por estes animais para alimentação e descanso. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a riqueza, a composição, o uso do habitat e a variação sazonal de espécies de aves limícolas associadas às salinas artificiais do Estuário Apodi-Mossoró, semiárido brasileiro. Entre agosto de 2012 e julho de 2016, foram realizados quinzenalmente censos (2 h duração) de aves limícolas Charadriiformes em uma área de 145 ha de salina deste Estuário (04°57’S; 37°08’O), em períodos de maré alta e baixa. Um total acumulado de 28.868 registros de indivíduos de 19 espécies Charadriiformes foram obtidos em 192 censos. O número de registros de aves limícolas por censo no verão (2ª quinzena de agosto a 1ª quinzena de março: 167,9 ± 16,9 registros, média ± EP, N = 112 censos) foi semelhante ao registrado no inverno (2ª quinzena de março a 1ª quinzena de agosto: 125,7 ± 11,4, N = 80) (U = 4221; p = 0,495). No período do verão, o número de registros de aves limícolas por censo não variou entre períodos de maré alta e de maré baixa (U = 1280; p = 0,094). Por outro lado, no inverno, o número de registros em maré alta foi maior que em maré baixa (U = 501,5; p = 0,004). Em comparação ao uso de microhabitats na salina, as aves limícolas foram mais frequentes nos tanques de evaporação (85% do total de registros), e menos frequentes nos tanques de bombeamento (9%) e de cristalização (6%). Houve diferença significativa no número de registros de indivíduos/ha (densidade), com a maior densidade de indivíduos por censo nos microhabitats de evaporação (H = 246; p < 0,0001). Os tanques de evaporação e bombeamento foram utilizados principalmente para o forrageamento (respectivamente, 79% e 76% dos registros em cada um dos tipos de microhabitat) e os de cristalização para o descanso (75%). A partir destes resultados, o Estuário Apodi-Mossoró pode ser reconhecido como uma relevante área para a conservação de populações de Charadriiformes migratórias e residentes na América do Sul. O uso das salinas deste Estuário como habitats alternativos para alimentação e descanso por aves limícolas implica na necessidade de implementação de um programa de monitoramento ambiental continuado nas salinas, a fim de garantir a manutenção dos requerimentos ecológicos espécie-específicos e a não contaminação química destes animais / 2017-05-05

1. O manejo da vida silvestre em matrizes antropizadas, fora de reservas naturais, é importante para melhorar a eficácia de esforços conservacionistas que visam proteger e restaurar a biodiversidade. Desta forma, é fundamental entender as características da matriz que aumentam a adequabilidade do habitat para as espécies remanescentes e também avaliar as respostas das espécies à práticas de manejo alternativas. 2. Neste estudo utilizamos uma abordagem de modelagem hierárquica, que leva em conta o efeito de falhas de detectabilidade das espécies, para estimar o efeito de práticas de manejo adotadas dentro de talhões de plantios de Eucalyptus sobre a ocupação de aves. Nossos modelos incorporam características sítio-específicas, como tipo de prática de manejo e o contexto da paisagem em que se inserem cada unidade amostral. Também incorpora características espécie-específicas, em particular à sensibilidade das espécies aos distúrbios e estrato de forrageio. 3. O principal fator associado a diferenças na ocupação de aves dentro de nossa área de estudo é o tipo de pratica de manejo. A presença de árvores nativas dispersas e de sub-bosque em estágio inicial de sucessão dentro dos talhões está associada com um aumento na proporção de espécies do pool regional capaz de ocupar a matriz silvicultural. O contexto da paisagem teve um efeito relativamente menor sobre a ocupação de aves na área de estudo. 4. Síntese e Aplicação. A ocupação de aves está associada positivamente ao aumento da complexidade estrutural dentro dos talhões de eucalipto, as espécies respondem a retenção de árvores nativas dispersas e a presença de sub-bosque. Gerenciadores interessados em aumentar o valor conservacionista de plantios de Eucalyptus para as aves deveriam preservar as arvores maduras e adotar práticas que estimulem a regeneração do sub-bosque durante o preparo do local e rotação do plantio. / 1. Managing for wildlife in human-dominated matrices outside natural reserves has great importance to improve the efficacy of conservation efforts aiming to protect and restore biodiversity. As such, it is critical to understand which features of the matrix that enhance habitat suitability to the remaining species and also to evaluate species responses to alternative management practices. 2. We used hierarchical modeling to estimate the effect of stand level management practices adopted in Eucalyptus plantations on bird occupancy while accounting for species detection failure. Our models incorporate site- specific traits, such as management practice type and the landscape context of each sampling unit. It also incorporates species specific-traits, particularly species sensitivity to disturbance and species foraging stratum. 3. The major factor associated with differences in bird occupancy within our study site is the management practice type. Scattered native trees and early successional stage understory within mature stands was associated with an increase in the proportion of bird species from the regional pool that was able to occupy the silvicultural matrix. Landscape context had a relatively minor effect on bird occupancy in our study area. 4. Synthesis and applications. Bird occupancy is positively associated with increasing spatial heterogeneity within eucalyptus stands with species responding to the retention of native scattered trees and understory presence. Managers interested in improving the conservation value of Eucalyptus plantations to birds should preserve some existing trees and adopt practices that trigger understory regeneration during site preparation and stand rotation.

Despite substantial investments in biodiversity conservation interventions over the past two decades there is relatively little evidence about whether interventions work, and how they work. Whether an intervention is deemed to “work” depends upon how goals are defined and then measured, which is complex given that different stakeholders have very different expectations for any intervention (including species conservation, habitat protection, human wellbeing or participation goals), and because the process of measuring impacts can involve a simplification of more sophisticated ideals. These questions were investigated for a suite of biodiversity conservation interventions, implemented during 2005-2012 in the Northern Plains landscape of Cambodia. The interventions included the establishment of Protected Areas (PAs), village-level land-use planning, and three different types of Payments for Environmental Services (PES) instituted within the PAs. The PES programmes were (1) direct payments for species protection; (2) community-managed ecotourism linked to wildlife and habitat protection; and (3) payments to keep within land-use plans. The impact evaluation compared the results of each of the interventions with appropriate matched controls, considering both environmental and social impacts between 2005-2011. Both PAs and PES delivered additional environmental outcomes: reducing deforestation rates significantly in comparison with controls and protecting species for those cases where appropriate data was available. PAs increased security of access to land and forest resources for local households, benefiting forest resource users, but restricting households’ ability to expand and diversify their agriculture. PES impacts on household wellbeing were related to the magnitude of the payments provided: the two higher-paying PES programmes had significant positive impacts for participants, whereas a lower-paying programme that targeted biodiversity protection had no detectable effect on livelihoods, despite its positive environmental outcomes. Households that signed up to the higher-paying PES programmes, however, typically needed more capital assets and hence they were less poor and more food secure than other villagers. Therefore, whereas the impacts of PAs on household wellbeing were limited overall and varied between livelihood strategies, the PES programmes had significant positive impacts on livelihoods for those that could afford to participate. This is one of the first evaluations of the social impacts of PES that has been completed globally. The PA authorities were primarily effective at deterring external drivers of biodiversity loss, especially large-scale developments, land grabbing and in-migration, and had much more limited impact on local residents as the impact evaluation results demonstrated. The PES programmes had little or no effect on the external drivers, and instead explicitly targeted the behaviour of local residents. The three PES programmes differed in the extent to which they rewarded changes in individual or collective behaviour, and whether or not they were managed locally or externally. Household-level, conditional, payments were more effective at changing individual behaviour than collective payments; although there was evidence that both types of payments did lead to protection of forests at the village scale. Village-managed PES programmes empowered a subset of households that were then effective at enforcing regulations within the village. Externally managed PES programmes were more popular and viewed as fairer, but did not change collective behaviour. The general conclusion is that the design and institutional arrangements of PES programmes determines how participants perceive the programmes, and then the extent to which they bring about changes in behaviour.