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2. Globally important islands where eradicating invasive mammals will benefit highly threatened vertebrates.

Author

Holmes, Nick, Spatz, Dena, Oppel, Steffen, Tershy, Bernie, Croll, Donald, Keitt, Brad, Genovesi, Piero, Burfield, Ian, Will, David, Bond, Alexander, Wegmann, Alex, Aguirre-Muñoz, Alfonso, Raine, André, Knapp, Charles, Hung, Chung-Hang, Wingate, David, Hagen, Erin, Méndez-Sánchez, Federico, Rocamora, Gerard, Yuan, Hsiao-Wei, Fric, Jakob, Millett, James, Russell, James, Liske-Clark, Jill, Vidal, Eric, Jourdan, Hervé, Campbell, Karl, Springer, Keith, Swinnerton, Kirsty, Gibbons-Decherong, Lolita, Langrand, Olivier, Brooke, M, McMinn, Miguel, Bunbury, Nancy, Oliveira, Nuno, Sposimo, Paolo, Geraldes, Pedro, McClelland, Pete, Hodum, Peter, Ryan, Peter, Borroto-Páez, Rafael, Pierce, Ray, Griffiths, Richard, Fisher, Robert, Wanless, Ross, Pasachnik, Stesha, Cranwell, Steve, Micol, Thierry, and Butchart, Stuart

Subjects
Animals, Biodiversity, Conservation of Natural Resources, Endangered Species, Extinction, Biological, Introduced Species, Islands, Mammals
Abstract

Invasive alien species are a major threat to native insular species. Eradicating invasive mammals from islands is a feasible and proven approach to prevent biodiversity loss. We developed a conceptual framework to identify globally important islands for invasive mammal eradications to prevent imminent extinctions of highly threatened species using biogeographic and technical factors, plus a novel approach to consider socio-political feasibility. We applied this framework using a comprehensive dataset describing the distribution of 1,184 highly threatened native vertebrate species (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red List) and 184 non-native mammals on 1,279 islands worldwide. Based on extinction risk, irreplaceability, severity of impact from invasive species, and technical feasibility of eradication, we identified and ranked 292 of the most important islands where eradicating invasive mammals would benefit highly threatened vertebrates. When socio-political feasibility was considered, we identified 169 of these islands where eradication planning or operation could be initiated by 2020 or 2030 and would improve the survival prospects of 9.4% of the Earths most highly threatened terrestrial insular vertebrates (111 of 1,184 species). Of these, 107 islands were in 34 countries and territories and could have eradication projects initiated by 2020. Concentrating efforts to eradicate invasive mammals on these 107 islands would benefit 151 populations of 80 highly threatened vertebrates and make a major contribution towards achieving global conservation targets adopted by the worlds nations.

Published
2019

3. An Overview of the Socio-Ecological System of Cays and Islets in the US Caribbean and Their Vulnerability to Climate Change

Author

Murry, Brent A., primary, Colón-Merced, Ricardo J., additional, Colón-Rivera, Ricardo, additional, Fury, Cindy, additional, García-Bermúdez, Miguel A., additional, Herrera-Giraldo, Jose Luis, additional, Jackson, Chester W., additional, Lilyestrom, Craig, additional, Llerandi-Román, Iván, additional, Meléndez-Ackerman, Elvia, additional, Meléndez-Oyola, Melissa, additional, Monzón-Carmona, Omar, additional, Platenberg, Renata, additional, Quiñones, Maya, additional, Ruiz, Héctor J., additional, Schärer-Umpierre, Michelle, additional, Stys, Beth, additional, Swinnerton, Kirsty, additional, Toledo-Soto, Glorimar, additional, and Vargas, José, additional

Published
2020
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4. From the Sea of Cortez to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska: General Principles Applied to Eradication Planning, Compliance, and Implementation (Abstract)

Author

Howald, Gregg R., Buckelew, Stacey, Wegmann, Alex, Swinnerton, Kirsty, and Samaniego, Araceli

Subjects
bait application, ecosystem restoration, eradication, invasive species, non-target risk, risk management, rodent control, rodenticides, rodents, secondary poisoning, toxicants
Abstract

The removal of introduced rodents from islands can be a highly successful, and thus, important conservation tool for land managers. Non-native rodents have adverse impacts to island ecosystems. Rats alone have been implicated in approximately 40-60% of all bird and reptile extinctions globally. Introduced rodents have been removed from more than 330 islands worldwide using techniques adapted over a ~30-year time period – the use of a bait containing a rodenticide delivered by hand into bait stations or broadcast by hand or helicopter, or a combination of these techniques. Island Conservation has applied this basic approach to remove rodents from islands spanning from the deep tropics to north temperate/sub-Arctic latitudes. Across these regions, the same principle has been applied but the details customized to the local biological and sociopolitical environment. The fundamental considerations during rodent eradication planning have included: 1) delivery of a bait containing a rodenticide into every potential rat territory; 2) delivery at a time of year when the rodent population is food stressed and more likely to eat the bait; 3) minimizing or eliminating, wherever possible, risk to non-target species prone to disturbance and/or toxicant exposure; and 4) ensuring appropriate legal or regulatory compliance and acceptance by local communities. In most cases, the balance between the probability of eradication success and these considerations, particularly risk to non-target species and safe workplace seasonal time periods, are not compatible and may conflict. Thus, adjustments to the eradication plans are sometimes necessary, and are done with careful evaluation of counter-risks to eradication efficacy, non-target species, logistics, or workplace safety. We will use our projects as case studies to demonstrate the approach we take to balance the risks and mitigation, with decisions made in conjunction with our project partners. Comprehensive and transparent planning, with the involvement of experts in the eradication field, land managers, local biologists, regulators, and local community are imperative to overall project success.

Published
2010

6. The ecology and conservation of the pink pigeon Columba Mayeri in Mauritius

Author

Swinnerton, Kirsty Jane

Subjects
577, QL Zoology
Abstract

The pink pigeon Columba mayeri was a critically endangered endemic bird from Mauritius= in the Indian Ocean. The species reached its lowest point of between 10 and 20 birds in 1975 and the wild population continued to decline to 9 or 10 birds in 1990. The causes of decline included habitat destruction, seasonal food shortages and predation by introduced mammals. Between 1987 and 1997, 256 captive-reared birds were released on Mauritius at three sites. Free-living birds were intensively managed and between 1988 and 1998, 429 young fledged in the wild. The population numbered 297 birds at the end of 1998. Factors limiting survival and reproductive success were identified and an assessment of the re-introduction programme made. Mean survival of j'Qveniles (up to one year old) was 68% and adults 83% per year. Median age at egg-laying for females was 10.9 months and fertility 58.6%. Mean annual nest success was 18.4% and productivity 1.2 young per female from 1992. Productivity for males and females peaked in year one and there was large individual variation, 9% of females produced 43% of young. Survival, nest success and productivity varied between sites, were affected by inbreeding and were poorer for released birds than wild-fledged birds. Causes of nesting failure included predation, infertility and disease. Unhatched eggs accounted for 56% of failed nests in a predator-free environment. Disease affected survival of fledged birds and squabs. On lIe aux Aigrettes trichomoniasis affected 49% of squabs. About 10% of all birds suffered from avian pox and 36% of all birds were infected with Leucocytozoon marchouxi. As a result of the programme, the pink pigeon has been down-listed to endangered. With management, survival and productivity are sufficient to contribute to population growth. This programme was considered a good example of the interface between captive-breeding and the recovery of a wild population.

Published
2001
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10. State of Nature in Kent 2021

Author

Tinsley-Marshall, Paul, Skilbeck, Alana, Drake, Chris, Edwards, Chloe, Allen, Geoff, Atkinson, Keeley, Baker, Julia, Ball, Lawrence, Baur, Kathy, Beale, Sue, Bleet, Rosie, Bloor, Richard, Breeze, Lucy, Britton-Williams, Nicky, Buckingham, Sue, Butler, Maya, Clemmons, Lawrence, Culver, Eleanor, Easterbrook, Mike, Fitzmaurice, Amy, Griffiths, Andrea, Hadaway, Paul, Harding, Rory, Hazelhurst, Grant, Hayes, Matt, Heath, Marc, Hedley, Steve, Henderson, Andrew, Kirstoffer Hewitt, Hodges, Rick, Howard, Rufus, Hunt, Julia, Kitchener, Geoffrey, Mason-Baldwin, Lee, Moxey, Tricia, Orchard, Murray, Parr, Adrian, Pateman, Bethany, Peckham, Stephen, Phillips, Mike, Rainey, Maureen, Reid, Hannah, Russell-Smith, Tony, Ruyter, Alison, Shaw, Isabel, Shenton, Dave, Simmons, Hannah, Smith, Helen, Smith, Stan, Swinnerton, Kirsty Jane, Taylor, Pam, Thompson, Shirley, Tittley, Ian, Tuson, Dan, Walker, David, Weeks, Steve, Witts, Tony, and Young, John

Published
2022
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11. The ecology and conservation of the pink pigeon Columba Mayeri in Mauritius

Author

Swinnerton, Kirsty Jane

Subjects
QL
Abstract

The pink pigeon Columba mayeri was a critically endangered endemic bird from Mauritius= in the Indian Ocean. The species reached its lowest point of between 10 and 20 birds in 1975 and the wild population continued to decline to 9 or 10 birds in 1990. The causes of decline included habitat destruction, seasonal food shortages and predation by introduced mammals. Between 1987 and 1997, 256 captive-reared birds were released on Mauritius at three sites. Free-living birds were intensively managed and between 1988 and 1998, 429 young fledged in the wild. The population numbered 297 birds at the end of 1998. Factors limiting survival and reproductive success were identified and an assessment of the re-introduction programme made. Mean survival of j'Qveniles (up to one year old) was 68% and adults 83% per year. Median age at egg-laying for females was 10.9 months and fertility 58.6%. Mean annual nest success was 18.4% and productivity 1.2 young per female from 1992. Productivity for males and females peaked in year one and there was large individual variation, 9% of females produced 43% of young. Survival, nest success and productivity varied between sites, were affected by inbreeding and were poorer for released birds than wild-fledged birds. Causes of nesting failure included predation, infertility and disease. Unhatched eggs accounted for 56% of failed nests in a predator-free environment. Disease affected survival of fledged birds and squabs. On lIe aux Aigrettes trichomoniasis affected 49% of squabs. About 10% of all birds suffered from avian pox and 36% of all birds were infected with Leucocytozoon marchouxi. As a result of the programme, the pink pigeon has been down-listed to endangered. With management, survival and productivity are sufficient to contribute to population growth. This programme was considered a good example of the interface between captive-breeding and the recovery of a wild population.

Published
2021
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12. Survival estimates for two Hawaiian honeycreepers

Author

Vetter, John P., Swinnerton, Kirsty J., VanderWerf, Eric A., Garvin, Julia C., Mounce, Hanna L., Breniser, Haley E., Leonard, David L., and Fretz, J. Scott

Subjects
Population ecology -- Equipment and supplies, Extinction (Biology) -- Research, Earth sciences, Science and technology
Abstract

Most Hawaiian forest birds are endangered by habitat loss and degradation, predation by introduced mammals, and introduced diseases, but species recovery planning has been hampered by lack of demographic information, such as annual survival rates. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed markrecapture data using the program MARK to estimate apparent survival in the endangered Maui parrotbill (Pseudonestor xanthophrys) and Maui 'alauahio (Paroreomyza montana). Annual survival estimates were high in adult Maui parrotbills (0.84 ± 0.04) and Maui 'alauahio (0.78 ± 0.15). Survival was lower in hatch-year parrotbills (0.76 ± 0.09) and hatch-year 'alauahio (0.64 ± 0.13), and survival of 'alauahio also varied among years (0.51 ± 0.18 to 0.95 ± 0.06 in adults). These results provide important baseline data for two little-known species of honeycreepers and, together with ongoing nest success and productivity studies, will enable assessment of population trends and inform management decisions. Mark-recapture methods are a useful tool for monitoring populations of rare and cryptic species that are difficult to monitor using traditional survey methods., Island birds are more vulnerable to extinction than many continental species (Steadman 2006), and the Hawaiian avifauna is no exception. Hawai'i has lost more than half of its endemic birds, [...]

Published
2012
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13. Working paper analysing the economic implications of the proposed 30% target for areal protection in the draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framewor

Author

Waldron, Anthony, Adams, Vanessa, Allan, James, Arnell, Andy, Asner, Greg, Atkinson, Scott, Baccini, Alessandro, Baillie, Jonathan E.M., Balmford, Andrew, Beau, J. Austin, Brander, Luke, Joppa, Lucas N., Joshi, A. R., Jung, Martin, Kingston, Naomi, Klein, Carissa Joy, Krisztin, Tamas, Lam, Vicky, Leclere, David, Lindsey, Peter, Locke, Harvey, Malmer, Pernilla, Lovejoy, T.C., Madgwick, Philip, Malhi, Yadvinder, Maron, Martine, Mayorga, J., Meijl, Hans van, Miller, Dan, Molnar, Zsolt, Mueller, Nathaniel, Mukherjee, N., Naidoo, Robin, Nakamura, Katia, Olson, D., Nepal, Prakash, Noss, Reed F., O'Leary, Beth, Palacios-Abrantes, Juliano, Paxton, Midori, Popp, Alexander, Possingham, Hugh P., Prestemon, Jeff, Reside, April, Robinson, Catherine, Robinson, John, Sala, Enric, Steenbeek, Jeroen, Scherrer, Kim, Spalding, Mark, Spenceley, Anna, Stehfest, Elke, Strassborg, Bernardo, Sumaila, Rashid U., Swinnerton, Kirsty, Sze, Jocelyne, Tittensor, Derek P., Toivonen, Tuuli, Toledo, Alejandra, Negret Torres, Pablo, Vilela, Thais, Van Zeist, Willem-Jan, Vause, James, Venter, Oscar, Visconti, P., Vynne, Carly, Watson, Reg, Watson, James E.M., Wikramanayake, Eric, Williams, Brooke, Wintle, Brendan A., Woodley, Stephen, Wu, Wenchao, Brondizio, Eduardo, Zander, Kerstin, Zhang, Yuchen, Zhang, Y.P., Bruner, Aaron, Burgess, Neil D., Burkard, K., Butchart, S.H.M., Button, Rio, Carrasco, Roman, Cheung, William W.L., Christensen, Villy, Clements, Andy, Coll, Marta, Di Marco, Moreno, Deguignet, Marine, Dinerstein, Eric, Ellis, Erle, Eppink, Florian, Ervin, Jamison, Escobedo, Anita, Fa, John E., Fernandes-Llamazares, Alvaro, Fernando, Sanjiv, Fujimori, Shinichiro, Fulton, Elizabeth A., Garnett, Stephen, Gerber, James, Gill, D., Gopalakrishna, Trisha, Hahn, Nathan, Halpern, Ben, Hasegawa, Tomoko, Havlik, Petr, Heikinheimo, Vuokko, Heneghan, Ryan F., Henry, Ella, Humpenoder, Florian, Jonas, Harry, Jones, Kendall R., European Commission, and Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)

Abstract

58 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, The World Economic Forum now ranks biodiversity loss as a top-five risk to the global economy, and the draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework proposes an expansion of conservation areas to 30% of the earth’s surface by 2030 (hereafter the “30% target”), using protected areas (PAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). - Two immediate concerns are how much a 30% target might cost and whether it will cause economic losses to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. - Conservation areas also generate economic benefits (e.g. revenue from nature tourism and ecosystem services), making PAs/Nature an economic sector in their own right. - If some economic sectors benefit but others experience a loss, high-level policy makers need to know the net impact on the wider economy, as well as on individual sectors. [...], A. Waldron, K. Nakamura, J. Sze, T. Vilela, A. Escobedo, P. Negret Torres, R. Button, K. Swinnerton, A. Toledo, P. Madgwick, N. Mukherjee were supported by National Geographic and the Resources Legacy Fund. V. Christensen was supported by NSERC Discovery Grant RGPIN-2019-04901. M. Coll and J. Steenbeek were supported by EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 817578 (TRIATLAS). D. Leclere was supported by TradeHub UKRI CGRF project. R. Heneghan was supported by Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Acciones de Programacion Conjunta Internacional (PCIN-2017-115). M. di Marco was supported by MIUR Rita Levi Montalcini programme. A. Fernandez-Llamazares was supported by Academy of Finland (grant nr. 311176). S. Fujimori and T. Hawegawa were supported by The Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (2-2002) of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan and the Sumitomo Foundation. V. Heikinheimo was supported by Kone Foundation, Social Media for Conservation project. K. Scherrer was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 682602. U. Rashid Sumaila acknowledges the OceanCanada Partnership, which funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). T. Toivonen was supported by Osk. Huttunen Foundation & Clare Hall college, Cambridge. W. Wu was supported by The Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (2-2002) of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan. Z. Yuchen was supported by a Ministry of Education of Singapore Research Scholarship Block (RSB) Research Fellowship

Published
2020

14. Protecting 30% of the planet for nature: costs, benefits and economic implications

Author

European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Waldron, Anthony, Adams, Vanessa, Allan, James, Arnell, Andy, Asner, Greg, Atkinson, Scott, Baccini, Alessandro, Baillie, Jonathan E.M., Balmford, Andrew, Beau, J. Austin, Brander, Luke, Di Marco, Moreno, Deguignet, Marine, Dinerstein, Eric, Ellis, Erle, Eppink, Florian, Ervin, Jamison, Escobedo, Anita, Fa, John E., Fernandes-Llamazares, Alvaro, Fernando, Sanjiv, Gerber, James, Fujimori, Shinichiro, Fulton, Elizabeth A., Garnett, Stephen, Gill, D., Gopalakrishna, Trisha, Hahn, Nathan, Halpern, Ben, Hasegawa, Tomoko, Havlik, Petr, Heikinheimo, Vuokko, Heneghan, Ryan F., Henry, Ella, Joppa, Lucas N., Humpenoder, Florian, Jonas, Harry, Jones, Kendall R., Joshi, A. R., Jung, Martin, Kingston, Naomi, Klein, Carissa Joy, Krisztin, Tamas, Lam, Vicky, Leclere, David, Lindsey, Peter, Locke, Harvey, Malmer, Pernilla, Lovejoy, T.C., Madgwick, Philip, Malhi, Yadvinder, Maron, Martine, Mayorga, J., Meijl, Hans van, Miller, Dan, Molnár, Zsolt, Mueller, Nathaniel, Mukherjee, N., Naidoo, Robin, Nakamura, Katia, Olson, D., Nepal, Prakash, Noss, Reed F., O'Leary, Bethan, Palacios-Abrantes, Juliano, Paxton, Midori, Popp, Alexander, Possingham, Hugh P., Prestemon, Jeff, Reside, April, Robinson, Catherine, Robinson, John, Sala, Enric, Steenbeek, Jeroen, Scherrer, Kim, Spalding, Mark, Spenceley, Anna, Stehfest, Elke, Strassborg, Bernardo, Sumaila, Rashid U., Swinnerton, Kirsty, Sze, Jocelyne, Tittensor, Derek P., Toivonen, Tuuli, Toledo, Alejandra, Negret Torres, Pablo, Vilela, Thais, Van Zeist, Willem-Jan, Vause, James, Venter, Oscar, Visconti, P., Vynne, Carly, Watson, Reg, Watson, James E.M., Wikramanayake, Eric, Williams, Brooke, Wintle, Brendan A., Woodley, Stephen, Wu, Wenchao, Brondizio, Eduardo, Zander, Kerstin, Zhang, Yuchen, Zhang, Y.P., Bruner, Aaron, Burgess, Neil D., Burkard, K., Butchart, S.H.M., Button, Rio, Carrasco, Roman, Cheung, William W.L., Christensen, Villy, Clements, Andy, Coll, Marta, European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Waldron, Anthony, Adams, Vanessa, Allan, James, Arnell, Andy, Asner, Greg, Atkinson, Scott, Baccini, Alessandro, Baillie, Jonathan E.M., Balmford, Andrew, Beau, J. Austin, Brander, Luke, Di Marco, Moreno, Deguignet, Marine, Dinerstein, Eric, Ellis, Erle, Eppink, Florian, Ervin, Jamison, Escobedo, Anita, Fa, John E., Fernandes-Llamazares, Alvaro, Fernando, Sanjiv, Gerber, James, Fujimori, Shinichiro, Fulton, Elizabeth A., Garnett, Stephen, Gill, D., Gopalakrishna, Trisha, Hahn, Nathan, Halpern, Ben, Hasegawa, Tomoko, Havlik, Petr, Heikinheimo, Vuokko, Heneghan, Ryan F., Henry, Ella, Joppa, Lucas N., Humpenoder, Florian, Jonas, Harry, Jones, Kendall R., Joshi, A. R., Jung, Martin, Kingston, Naomi, Klein, Carissa Joy, Krisztin, Tamas, Lam, Vicky, Leclere, David, Lindsey, Peter, Locke, Harvey, Malmer, Pernilla, Lovejoy, T.C., Madgwick, Philip, Malhi, Yadvinder, Maron, Martine, Mayorga, J., Meijl, Hans van, Miller, Dan, Molnár, Zsolt, Mueller, Nathaniel, Mukherjee, N., Naidoo, Robin, Nakamura, Katia, Olson, D., Nepal, Prakash, Noss, Reed F., O'Leary, Bethan, Palacios-Abrantes, Juliano, Paxton, Midori, Popp, Alexander, Possingham, Hugh P., Prestemon, Jeff, Reside, April, Robinson, Catherine, Robinson, John, Sala, Enric, Steenbeek, Jeroen, Scherrer, Kim, Spalding, Mark, Spenceley, Anna, Stehfest, Elke, Strassborg, Bernardo, Sumaila, Rashid U., Swinnerton, Kirsty, Sze, Jocelyne, Tittensor, Derek P., Toivonen, Tuuli, Toledo, Alejandra, Negret Torres, Pablo, Vilela, Thais, Van Zeist, Willem-Jan, Vause, James, Venter, Oscar, Visconti, P., Vynne, Carly, Watson, Reg, Watson, James E.M., Wikramanayake, Eric, Williams, Brooke, Wintle, Brendan A., Woodley, Stephen, Wu, Wenchao, Brondizio, Eduardo, Zander, Kerstin, Zhang, Yuchen, Zhang, Y.P., Bruner, Aaron, Burgess, Neil D., Burkard, K., Butchart, S.H.M., Button, Rio, Carrasco, Roman, Cheung, William W.L., Christensen, Villy, Clements, Andy, and Coll, Marta

Abstract

The World Economic Forum now ranks biodiversity loss as a top-five risk to the global economy, and the draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework proposes an expansion of conservation areas to 30% of the earth’s surface by 2030 (hereafter the “30% target”), using protected areas (PAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). - Two immediate concerns are how much a 30% target might cost and whether it will cause economic losses to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. - Conservation areas also generate economic benefits (e.g. revenue from nature tourism and ecosystem services), making PAs/Nature an economic sector in their own right. - If some economic sectors benefit but others experience a loss, high-level policy makers need to know the net impact on the wider economy, as well as on individual sectors. [...]

Published
2020

15. Update on the Desecheo Island Flora

Author

García-Cancel, Juan G., primary, Swinnerton, Kirsty, additional, Albarracín, Ricardo, additional, Feliciano, Armando, additional, Figuerola-Hernández, Cielo E., additional, and Silander, Susan, additional

Published
2019
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20. Decision-analysis to guide recovery of the Po’ouli, a critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper

Author

Vander Werf, Eric A., Groombridge, Jim J., Fretz, J. Scott, Swinnerton, Kirsty J., Vander Werf, Eric A., Groombridge, Jim J., Fretz, J. Scott, and Swinnerton, Kirsty J.

Abstract

We used a probabilistic decision tree to help select among alternative recovery strategies for the Po‘ouli, a critically endangered forest bird endemic to the Hawaiian island of Maui. The Po‘ouli is one of the rarest birds in the world, with only three individuals known, and no breeding pairs. The most urgent conservation need for the species is to create a breeding pair and obtain eggs for captive propagation. Seven recovery strategies had been proposed, and there was disagreement among conservation workers about which strategy to pursue. In addition to lengthy discussions, a decision tree was introduced to provide an objective way of quantifying the chance of success under each alternative. All available information was used to attempt evaluation of each node in the decision tree. The overall chance of obtaining eggs was calculated by multiplying estimates at each node under each alternative. All options produced low estimates of potential success, but two options, removal of all birds to captivity and placement of the birds in a field aviary in an accessible location, produced similar estimates of success. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife eventually agreed that removal to captivity was the preferred alternative because it could be implemented quickly, which was important considering the advanced age of the birds, and would make it easier to provide veterinary care and ensure their safety from predators, severe weather, and vandals. Decision trees and other structured models should not be relied on exclusively, but they can provide an objective method of helping to make difficult conservation decisions and provide a record of complex thought processes used in reaching a determination. The case of the Po‘ouli may serve as a template for navigation towards a decision to recover other species of extreme rarity.

Published
2006

22. Inbreeding depression and founder diversity among captive and free-living populations of the endangered pink pigeon Columba mayeri

Author

Swinnerton, Kirsty J., Groombridge, Jim J., Jones, Carl G., Burn, Robert W., Mungroo, Yousoof, Swinnerton, Kirsty J., Groombridge, Jim J., Jones, Carl G., Burn, Robert W., and Mungroo, Yousoof

Abstract

The endemic pink pigeon has recovered from less than 20 birds in the mid-1970s to 355 free-living individuals in 2003. A major concern for the species' recovery has been the potential genetic problem of inbreeding. Captive pink pigeons bred for reintroduction were managed to maximise founder representation and minimise inbreeding. In this paper, we quantify the effect of inbreeding on survival and reproductive parameters in captive and wild populations and quantify DNA sequence variation in the mitochondrial d-loop region for pink pigeon founders. Inbreeding affected egg fertility, squab, juvenile and adult survival, but effects were strongest in highly inbred birds (F greater than or equal to 0.25). Inbreeding depression was more apparent in free-living birds where even moderate levels of inbreeding affected survival, although highly inbred birds were equally compromised in both captive and wild populations. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypic diversity in pink pigeon founders is low, suggesting that background inbreeding is contributing to low fertility and depressed productivity in this species, as well as comparable survival of some groups of non-inbred and nominally inbred birds. Management of wild populations has boosted population growth and may be required long-term to offset the negative effects of inbreeding depression and enhance the species' survival.

Published
2004

27. Protecting 30% of the planet for nature: costs, benefits and economic implications

Author

Waldron, Anthony, Adams, Vanessa, Allan, James, Arnell, Andy, Asner, Greg, Atkinson, Scott, Baccini, Alessandro, Bailie, Jonathan EM, Balmford, Andrew, Beau, J Austin, Brander, Luke, Brondizio, Eduardo, Bruner, Aaron, Burgess, Neil, Burkat, K, Butchart, Stuart, Button, Rio, Carrasco, Roman, Cheung, William, Christensen, Villy, Clements, Andy, Coll, Marta, Di Marco, Moreno, Deguignet, Marine, Dinerstein, Eric, Ellis, Erle, Eppink, Florian, Ervin, Jamison, Escobedo, Anita, Fa, John, Fernandes-Llamazares, Alvaro, Fernando, Sanjiv, Fujimori, Shinichiro, Fulton, Beth, Garnett, Stephen, Gerber, James, Gill, David, Gopalakrishna, Trisha, Hahn, Nathan, Halpern, Ben, Hasegawa, Tomoko, Havlik, Petr, Heikinheimo, Vuokko, Heneghan, Ryan, Henry, Ella, Humpenoder, Florian, Jonas, Harry, Jones, Kendall, Joppa, Lucas, Joshi, AR, Jung, Martin, Kingston, Naomi, Klein, Carissa, Krisztin, Tamas, Lam, Vicky, Leclere, David, Lindsey, Peter, Locke, Harvey, Lovejoy, TE, Madgwick, Philip, Malhi, Yadvinder, Malmer, Pernilla, Maron, Martine, Mayorga, Juan, Van Meijl, Hans, Miller, Dan, Molnar, Zsolt, Mueller, Nathaniel, Mukherjee, Nibedita, Naidoo, Robin, Nakamura, Katia, Nepal, Prakash, Noss, RF, O'Leary, Beth, Olson, D, Palcios Abrantes, Juliano, Paxton, Midori, Popp, Alexander, Possingham, Hugh, Prestemon, Jeff, Reside, April, Robinson, Catherine, Robinson, John, Sala, Enric, Scherrer, Kim, Spalding, Mark, Spenceley, Anna, Steenbeck, Jeroen, Stehfest, Elke, Strassborg, Bernando, Sumalia, Rashid, Swinnerton, Kirsty, Sze, Jocelyne, Tittensor, Derek, Toivonen, Tuuli, Toledo, Alejandra, Torres, Pablo Negret, Van Zeist, Willem-Jan, Vause, James, Venter, Oscar, Vilela, Thais, Visconti, Piero, Vynne, Carly, Watson, Reg, Watson, James, Wikramanayake, Eric, Williams, Brooke, Wintle, Brendan, Woodley, Stephen, Wu, Wenchao, Zander, Kerstin, Zhang, Yuchen, Zhang, YP, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Digital Geography Lab, Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Department of Food and Nutrition, and Department of Forest Sciences

Subjects
1172 Environmental sciences
Abstract

Working paper analysing the economic implications of the proposed 30% target for areal protection in the draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

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