Due to British Columbia‟s expansive coastline and limited funding for marine mammal conservation, research projects rely heavily on citizen scientists, or volunteers who contribute data. Professional mariners are an important target audience for such projects. In an attempt to increase participation by this sector, I designed a workshop using the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) process. I worked closely with four marine mammal conservation societies and conducted an analysis phase with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) using a combination of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. I discovered that there is some awareness of existing conservation programs within the CCG but understanding of these programs as well as basic marine mammal knowledge and identification skills are limited. I also learned the importance of consistent feedback for continued participation and was able to relay information to the societies involved as well as use it to guide the development of my workshop.

Almost half of the world�s mammal extinctions in the last two hundred years have occurred in Australia (Short and Smith 1994). The western barred bandicoot Perameles bougainville is one of a suite of species that is currently threatened with extinction, surviving only on two islands in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Reintroduction has been used as a tool in conservation biology to assist in the recovery of threatened species, such as the western barred bandicoot. The aims of this project were to 1) successfully reintroduce and establish a free-ranging mainland population of the western barred bandicoot at Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, 2) contribute information on the biology of the species, its interactions with introduced species, and its likelihood of persistence as a reintroduced population in the longer-term, and 3) to provide recommendations to assist future reintroductions of the species. The first reintroduction of the western barred bandicoot from surviving remnant island populations to the mainland, some 60 years after its apparent mainland extinction, was from Dorre Island to Heirisson Prong in 1995. Animals were translocated initially to a predator-free refuge on Heirisson Prong, and then subsequently released to the 12 km2 peninsula where introduced predators (foxes Vulpes vulpes and feral cats Felis catus) had been controlled, but European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus had not. Despite a small founder number and high mortality of free-range bandicoots in the presence of a low-density feral cat population, the bandicoot population successfully established. The reintroduced population of western barred bandicoots provided an opportunity to study the biology of the species, and to compare it with the remnant island populations and other species of Australian bandicoot. Many population parameters were similar between the island and mainland western barred bandicoot populations, as well as between the western barred bandicoot and other bandicoot species, suggesting that the habitat at the reintroduction site is suitable for long-term persistence of the population. However, there were some notable differences. The western barred bandicoot is the smallest extant species of bandicoot, with fewer young per litter than recorded for other bandicoot species, adult sex ratios were closer to parity, animals reached sexual maturity later, and it is the only species of bandicoot where females are larger than males. Home range size is larger also than recorded for other species. Some of these differences may be explained in part by trade-offs between island dwarfism, lactational pressures, and nest defence. The nesting biology of the western barred bandicoot was studied at Heirisson Prong, including during periods of high and low densities of rabbits. Individuals of the species constructed and utilised nests in a similar fashion to other species of Australian bandicoot, nesting amongst litter underneath shrubs. The western barred bandicoot appeared to favour particular shrub species, especially when vegetation condition was poor due to rabbit damage, but displayed flexibility in being able to construct nests under a variety of shrub species where at least some surface litter was present. Grasses were used in nest construction only when rabbit density was low. Nests appear important for protection against temperature extremes and diurnal predators. Vegetation exclosures around three of the shrub species most commonly used by the western barred bandicoot for nest sites (Acacia ligulata, A. tetragonophylla and Melaleuca cardiophylla) were used to examine the impact of rabbits on vegetation on Heirisson Prong. A high-density rabbit population over the summer of 1997/98 caused in a decrease in canopy cover and the death of mature A. ligulata. Subsequent rainfall and low-density rabbit populations allowed A. tetragonophylla shrubs to recover their former structure, and M. cardiophylla to recover, but not to the same degree. The flexibility of western barred bandicoots in use of nest materials and their omnivorous diet may enable the species to survive in the face of habitat modification by rabbits. Population viability analysis was used to examine future options for the recovery of the endangered western barred bandicoot. Biological data from the Dorre Island and Heirisson Prong populations were input to the computer simulation program VORTEX. The western barred bandicoot populations were modelled under a variety of scenarios to examine the possible effects of changes in carrying capacity, founder population size, inbreeding depression, and the occurrence of drought and cat predation as catastrophes, on the probability of population extinction. This analysis highlighted the need for eradication of feral cats, above all other management actions. Cat predation was particularly potent when it acted through high loss of juveniles, as well as adult bandicoots. Predator control is considered critical for the long-term persistence of reintroduced populations of the western barred bandicoot. This study documents the first reintroduction of the endangered western barred bandicoot to mainland Australia. The population had been extant for four years at the completion of data collection for this thesis, in late 1999 and for over eight years at the finalisation of this thesis in July 2004. The knowledge gained from the reintroduction was used to discuss management recommendations and future options for the recovery of the species. The primary concern for reintroductions of this, and other species of bandicoots, remains the control of introduced predators. For long-term persistence of small, isolated populations, such as those of the western barred bandicoot at Heirisson Prong and the Arid Recovery Project at Roxby Downs in South Australia, and the eastern barred bandicoot Perameles gunnii at a range of sites in Victoria, the complete eradication of introduced predators is essential.

Almost half of the world�s mammal extinctions in the last two hundred years have occurred in Australia (Short and Smith 1994). The western barred bandicoot Perameles bougainville is one of a suite of species that is currently threatened with extinction, surviving only on two islands in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Reintroduction has been used as a tool in conservation biology to assist in the recovery of threatened species, such as the western barred bandicoot. The aims of this project were to 1) successfully reintroduce and establish a free-ranging mainland population of the western barred bandicoot at Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, 2) contribute information on the biology of the species, its interactions with introduced species, and its likelihood of persistence as a reintroduced population in the longer-term, and 3) to provide recommendations to assist future reintroductions of the species. The first reintroduction of the western barred bandicoot from surviving remnant island populations to the mainland, some 60 years after its apparent mainland extinction, was from Dorre Island to Heirisson Prong in 1995. Animals were translocated initially to a predator-free refuge on Heirisson Prong, and then subsequently released to the 12 km2 peninsula where introduced predators (foxes Vulpes vulpes and feral cats Felis catus) had been controlled, but European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus had not. Despite a small founder number and high mortality of free-range bandicoots in the presence of a low-density feral cat population, the bandicoot population successfully established. The reintroduced population of western barred bandicoots provided an opportunity to study the biology of the species, and to compare it with the remnant island populations and other species of Australian bandicoot. Many population parameters were similar between the island and mainland western barred bandicoot populations, as well as between the western barred bandicoot and other bandicoot species, suggesting that the habitat at the reintroduction site is suitable for long-term persistence of the population. However, there were some notable differences. The western barred bandicoot is the smallest extant species of bandicoot, with fewer young per litter than recorded for other bandicoot species, adult sex ratios were closer to parity, animals reached sexual maturity later, and it is the only species of bandicoot where females are larger than males. Home range size is larger also than recorded for other species. Some of these differences may be explained in part by trade-offs between island dwarfism, lactational pressures, and nest defence. The nesting biology of the western barred bandicoot was studied at Heirisson Prong, including during periods of high and low densities of rabbits. Individuals of the species constructed and utilised nests in a similar fashion to other species of Australian bandicoot, nesting amongst litter underneath shrubs. The western barred bandicoot appeared to favour particular shrub species, especially when vegetation condition was poor due to rabbit damage, but displayed flexibility in being able to construct nests under a variety of shrub species where at least some surface litter was present. Grasses were used in nest construction only when rabbit density was low. Nests appear important for protection against temperature extremes and diurnal predators. Vegetation exclosures around three of the shrub species most commonly used by the western barred bandicoot for nest sites (Acacia ligulata, A. tetragonophylla and Melaleuca cardiophylla) were used to examine the impact of rabbits on vegetation on Heirisson Prong. A high-density rabbit population over the summer of 1997/98 caused in a decrease in canopy cover and the death of mature A. ligulata. Subsequent rainfall and low-density rabbit populations allowed A. tetragonophylla shrubs to recover their former structure, and M. cardiophylla to recover, but not to the same degree. The flexibility of western barred bandicoots in use of nest materials and their omnivorous diet may enable the species to survive in the face of habitat modification by rabbits. Population viability analysis was used to examine future options for the recovery of the endangered western barred bandicoot. Biological data from the Dorre Island and Heirisson Prong populations were input to the computer simulation program VORTEX. The western barred bandicoot populations were modelled under a variety of scenarios to examine the possible effects of changes in carrying capacity, founder population size, inbreeding depression, and the occurrence of drought and cat predation as catastrophes, on the probability of population extinction. This analysis highlighted the need for eradication of feral cats, above all other management actions. Cat predation was particularly potent when it acted through high loss of juveniles, as well as adult bandicoots. Predator control is considered critical for the long-term persistence of reintroduced populations of the western barred bandicoot. This study documents the first reintroduction of the endangered western barred bandicoot to mainland Australia. The population had been extant for four years at the completion of data collection for this thesis, in late 1999 and for over eight years at the finalisation of this thesis in July 2004. The knowledge gained from the reintroduction was used to discuss management recommendations and future options for the recovery of the species. The primary concern for reintroductions of this, and other species of bandicoots, remains the control of introduced predators. For long-term persistence of small, isolated populations, such as those of the western barred bandicoot at Heirisson Prong and the Arid Recovery Project at Roxby Downs in South Australia, and the eastern barred bandicoot Perameles gunnii at a range of sites in Victoria, the complete eradication of introduced predators is essential.

This thesis is offered as a contribution to studies of social and cultural change in the Icelandic fisheries and fishing communities. Such changes may be seen as a result of the interplay of internal dynamics with both national and global forces and processes, not least with regard to the impacts of fisheries governance. These changes occur also in an international context of new environmental ideologies and perceptions of marine mammals, with consequences for social dynamics of local resource-use. Here it is argued that the conflicts over the harvesting or conservation of cetaceans can productively be understood from a cultural perspective. The thesis discusses the elevation of whales as symbols of particular value, and the metaphorical and cognitive aspects of, in particular, anthropomorphism, the projection of human motives and values onto animal behaviour, as a significant and effective part of conservation rhetoric and ideology. Specifically, the thesis deals with issues concerning whaling and whale watching along with issues and debates concerning these alternative forms of exploiting marine mammals. It also discusses central questions regarding fisheries governance and rights to fishing with reference to social and economic viability in Icelandic fishing communities. The unifying themes of this thesis are: how marine-mammal issues and controversies and social impacts of fisheries governance form part of globalization processes; how environmental and economic paradigms influence change, particularly in terms of marine-mammal conservation campaigns and market liberalist resource policy; and how these external ideological forces call for responses at local and national levels. The adaptive actions of the human agents and communities involved are described as creative, cumulative and complex. The thesis also highlights the central transformative role of the new regime of private property rights introduced into Icelandic fisheries governance in the 1980s.

Estimativas recentes mostram que as taxas atuais de extinção são muito maiores do que o indicado pelo registro fóssil, sendo as principais ameaças resultado da atividade humana. Como a crise da biodiversidade age em todas as escalas e não apresenta fronteiras políticas, a aplicação do arcabouço teórico da biogeografia da conservação e do planejamento sistemático para conservação se torna muito útil para a identificação de áreas com alto valor de conservação que sejam significativas em um contexto global, continental ou regional. Além da dimensão taxonômica, as dimensões funcional e filogenética da biodiversidade são componentes importantes para a conservação, e a sua perda implica não somente em perda de espécies, mas também na perda de funções ecossistêmicas e de trajetórias evolutivas. O objetivo desta tese foi avaliar como o impacto humano atual gerado pelo uso da terra, influencia padrões funcionais (relacionados ao risco de extinção, Capítulo 1) e filogenéticos (Capítulo 2) de distribuição, e como informações filogenéticas e de atributos podem ser utilizadas para informar priorização espacial pra conservação (Capítulo 3). Nos capítulos 1 e 2 encontrei que a influência do uso da terra sobre a biodiversidade não está restrita apenas às escalas mais locais e de paisagem, mas também já é perceptível em escalas geográficas amplas. Além disso, verifiquei que o uso da terra tem impacto não somente na dimensão taxonômica, mas também nas dimensões filogenética e funcional da diversidade de vertebrados nessa escala macrogeográfica. Isso demonstra a necessidade de um planejamento de ocupação e manejo de áreas utilizadas para atividades humana em ampla escala também, pois o impacto humano não se dá mais somente em escalas finas. O uso atual da terra representa uma ameaça real maior para algumas linhagens de anfíbios (Capítulo 1) e de primatas (Capítulo 2), como, por exemplo, Microhylidae e Atelidae, respectivamente. Isso reforça a necessidade de utilizarmos abordagens filogenéticas que identifiquem quais linhagens estão mais suscetíveis aos impactos decorrentes de atividades humanas. Ao tentar maximizar a a conservação das dimensões taxonômica, filogenética e funcional da biodiversidade de mamíferos, a congruência entre as áreas selecionadas como prioritárias foi baixa. A integração dos diferentes componentes da biodiversidade para selecionar áreas mais eficientes para a conservação das espécies ainda é um desafio. O desencontro entre as prioridades de conservação para as diferentes dimensões da biodiversidade ressalta a necessidade o desenvolvimento de abordagens mais integrativas para a conservação da biodiversidade. / Recent estimates show that current exticntion rates are much higher than the indicated by fossil records. The causes of this elevated rate are mostly result of human activities. The biodiversity crisis affects all scales and presents no political boundaries, the application of the theoretical and analytical framework of Conservation Biogeography and Systematic Conservation Planning becomes very useful to identify meaningful areas with high conservation value locally and globally. In addition to taxonomic diversity, functional and phylogenetic dimensions of biodiversity are also important components to preserve, and their loss implies not only on species number, but also loss of ecosystem services and evolutionary history. The aim of the thesis was to evaluate how impacts of human land use influences functional (related to extinction risk, Chapter 1) and phylogenetic (Chapter 2) distribution patterns, and how phylogenetic and trait information could be used to inform spatial conservation prioritization (Chapter 3). In the chapter 1 and 2 I found that the influence of land use on the biodiversity is not constrained to local and landscape scales, but has an effect at broad-scales too. Besides, I verified that land use impacts on phylogenetic and functional dimensions on macrogeographical scales. These results show a need of creating a broad scale planning for ocupation and management of areas intended to human activities. Current land use is a major threat to some lineages of amphibians (Chapter 1) and primates (Chapter 2), as for example Microhylidae and Atelidae respectively. That reinforces the need of phylogenetics approaches that identify which lineages are more exposed to human activities. We found low congruence between priority areas for maximize the conservation of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetics dimensions of biodiversity. The integration of the differnt componentes of diversity to conservation still is a chalenge. The mismatch of the conservation priorities across the different dimension highlights the necessity of an integrative approach to biodiversity conservation.

Estimativas recentes mostram que as taxas atuais de extinção são muito maiores do que o indicado pelo registro fóssil, sendo as principais ameaças resultado da atividade humana. Como a crise da biodiversidade age em todas as escalas e não apresenta fronteiras políticas, a aplicação do arcabouço teórico da biogeografia da conservação e do planejamento sistemático para conservação se torna muito útil para a identificação de áreas com alto valor de conservação que sejam significativas em um contexto global, continental ou regional. Além da dimensão taxonômica, as dimensões funcional e filogenética da biodiversidade são componentes importantes para a conservação, e a sua perda implica não somente em perda de espécies, mas também na perda de funções ecossistêmicas e de trajetórias evolutivas. O objetivo desta tese foi avaliar como o impacto humano atual gerado pelo uso da terra, influencia padrões funcionais (relacionados ao risco de extinção, Capítulo 1) e filogenéticos (Capítulo 2) de distribuição, e como informações filogenéticas e de atributos podem ser utilizadas para informar priorização espacial pra conservação (Capítulo 3). Nos capítulos 1 e 2 encontrei que a influência do uso da terra sobre a biodiversidade não está restrita apenas às escalas mais locais e de paisagem, mas também já é perceptível em escalas geográficas amplas. Além disso, verifiquei que o uso da terra tem impacto não somente na dimensão taxonômica, mas também nas dimensões filogenética e funcional da diversidade de vertebrados nessa escala macrogeográfica. Isso demonstra a necessidade de um planejamento de ocupação e manejo de áreas utilizadas para atividades humana em ampla escala também, pois o impacto humano não se dá mais somente em escalas finas. O uso atual da terra representa uma ameaça real maior para algumas linhagens de anfíbios (Capítulo 1) e de primatas (Capítulo 2), como, por exemplo, Microhylidae e Atelidae, respectivamente. Isso reforça a necessidade de utilizarmos abordagens filogenéticas que identifiquem quais linhagens estão mais suscetíveis aos impactos decorrentes de atividades humanas. Ao tentar maximizar a a conservação das dimensões taxonômica, filogenética e funcional da biodiversidade de mamíferos, a congruência entre as áreas selecionadas como prioritárias foi baixa. A integração dos diferentes componentes da biodiversidade para selecionar áreas mais eficientes para a conservação das espécies ainda é um desafio. O desencontro entre as prioridades de conservação para as diferentes dimensões da biodiversidade ressalta a necessidade o desenvolvimento de abordagens mais integrativas para a conservação da biodiversidade. / Recent estimates show that current exticntion rates are much higher than the indicated by fossil records. The causes of this elevated rate are mostly result of human activities. The biodiversity crisis affects all scales and presents no political boundaries, the application of the theoretical and analytical framework of Conservation Biogeography and Systematic Conservation Planning becomes very useful to identify meaningful areas with high conservation value locally and globally. In addition to taxonomic diversity, functional and phylogenetic dimensions of biodiversity are also important components to preserve, and their loss implies not only on species number, but also loss of ecosystem services and evolutionary history. The aim of the thesis was to evaluate how impacts of human land use influences functional (related to extinction risk, Chapter 1) and phylogenetic (Chapter 2) distribution patterns, and how phylogenetic and trait information could be used to inform spatial conservation prioritization (Chapter 3). In the chapter 1 and 2 I found that the influence of land use on the biodiversity is not constrained to local and landscape scales, but has an effect at broad-scales too. Besides, I verified that land use impacts on phylogenetic and functional dimensions on macrogeographical scales. These results show a need of creating a broad scale planning for ocupation and management of areas intended to human activities. Current land use is a major threat to some lineages of amphibians (Chapter 1) and primates (Chapter 2), as for example Microhylidae and Atelidae respectively. That reinforces the need of phylogenetics approaches that identify which lineages are more exposed to human activities. We found low congruence between priority areas for maximize the conservation of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetics dimensions of biodiversity. The integration of the differnt componentes of diversity to conservation still is a chalenge. The mismatch of the conservation priorities across the different dimension highlights the necessity of an integrative approach to biodiversity conservation.

Estimativas recentes mostram que as taxas atuais de extinção são muito maiores do que o indicado pelo registro fóssil, sendo as principais ameaças resultado da atividade humana. Como a crise da biodiversidade age em todas as escalas e não apresenta fronteiras políticas, a aplicação do arcabouço teórico da biogeografia da conservação e do planejamento sistemático para conservação se torna muito útil para a identificação de áreas com alto valor de conservação que sejam significativas em um contexto global, continental ou regional. Além da dimensão taxonômica, as dimensões funcional e filogenética da biodiversidade são componentes importantes para a conservação, e a sua perda implica não somente em perda de espécies, mas também na perda de funções ecossistêmicas e de trajetórias evolutivas. O objetivo desta tese foi avaliar como o impacto humano atual gerado pelo uso da terra, influencia padrões funcionais (relacionados ao risco de extinção, Capítulo 1) e filogenéticos (Capítulo 2) de distribuição, e como informações filogenéticas e de atributos podem ser utilizadas para informar priorização espacial pra conservação (Capítulo 3). Nos capítulos 1 e 2 encontrei que a influência do uso da terra sobre a biodiversidade não está restrita apenas às escalas mais locais e de paisagem, mas também já é perceptível em escalas geográficas amplas. Além disso, verifiquei que o uso da terra tem impacto não somente na dimensão taxonômica, mas também nas dimensões filogenética e funcional da diversidade de vertebrados nessa escala macrogeográfica. Isso demonstra a necessidade de um planejamento de ocupação e manejo de áreas utilizadas para atividades humana em ampla escala também, pois o impacto humano não se dá mais somente em escalas finas. O uso atual da terra representa uma ameaça real maior para algumas linhagens de anfíbios (Capítulo 1) e de primatas (Capítulo 2), como, por exemplo, Microhylidae e Atelidae, respectivamente. Isso reforça a necessidade de utilizarmos abordagens filogenéticas que identifiquem quais linhagens estão mais suscetíveis aos impactos decorrentes de atividades humanas. Ao tentar maximizar a a conservação das dimensões taxonômica, filogenética e funcional da biodiversidade de mamíferos, a congruência entre as áreas selecionadas como prioritárias foi baixa. A integração dos diferentes componentes da biodiversidade para selecionar áreas mais eficientes para a conservação das espécies ainda é um desafio. O desencontro entre as prioridades de conservação para as diferentes dimensões da biodiversidade ressalta a necessidade o desenvolvimento de abordagens mais integrativas para a conservação da biodiversidade. / Recent estimates show that current exticntion rates are much higher than the indicated by fossil records. The causes of this elevated rate are mostly result of human activities. The biodiversity crisis affects all scales and presents no political boundaries, the application of the theoretical and analytical framework of Conservation Biogeography and Systematic Conservation Planning becomes very useful to identify meaningful areas with high conservation value locally and globally. In addition to taxonomic diversity, functional and phylogenetic dimensions of biodiversity are also important components to preserve, and their loss implies not only on species number, but also loss of ecosystem services and evolutionary history. The aim of the thesis was to evaluate how impacts of human land use influences functional (related to extinction risk, Chapter 1) and phylogenetic (Chapter 2) distribution patterns, and how phylogenetic and trait information could be used to inform spatial conservation prioritization (Chapter 3). In the chapter 1 and 2 I found that the influence of land use on the biodiversity is not constrained to local and landscape scales, but has an effect at broad-scales too. Besides, I verified that land use impacts on phylogenetic and functional dimensions on macrogeographical scales. These results show a need of creating a broad scale planning for ocupation and management of areas intended to human activities. Current land use is a major threat to some lineages of amphibians (Chapter 1) and primates (Chapter 2), as for example Microhylidae and Atelidae respectively. That reinforces the need of phylogenetics approaches that identify which lineages are more exposed to human activities. We found low congruence between priority areas for maximize the conservation of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetics dimensions of biodiversity. The integration of the differnt componentes of diversity to conservation still is a chalenge. The mismatch of the conservation priorities across the different dimension highlights the necessity of an integrative approach to biodiversity conservation.