Threatened species research roundup

Summary list of recent published threatened species research compiled by Katherine Selwood, Zoos Victoria

 

Do substitute species help or hinder endangered species management?  Despite nearly identical habitat requirements, this study found the endangered butterfly used different host plants, had higher larval survival and higher abundance in restored than the common butterfly, which had higher abundances in unrestored sites. Management decisions based on unvalidated substitute species run the risk of doing more harm than good for endangered species conservation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320718317786

Correlates of physiological stress and habitat factors in reintroduction-based recovery of tiger populations

Tigers were released into two sites; one population had substantially lower reproductive success and higher stress. This was attributed to the lower habitat suitability at this site.

 

Mating behaviour by translocated individuals may have improved the outcome of augmentation by increasing genetic admixture. https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/acv.12486?af=R

 

Conserving adaptive potential: lessons from Tasmanian devils and their transmissible cancer Translocations of captive devils into wild populations evolving with DFTD can cause outbreeding depression and/or increases in the force of infection https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-019-01157-5

 

 

 

 

 

In the last 30 years, islands and fenced exclosures free of introduced predators(collectively, havens) have become an increasingly used option for protecting Australian mammals imperiled by predation by introduced cats (Felis catus) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). However, Australia's network of havens is not expanding in a manner that maximizes representation of all predator-susceptible taxa, because of continued emphasis on already-represented taxa. Future additions to the haven network will improve representation of mammals most efficiently if they fill gaps in underrepresented predator-susceptible taxa, particularly rodents. A systematic approach to expansion could protect at least one population of every Australian predator susceptible threatened mammal taxon by the addition of 12 new havens to the current network. Were the current haven network to be doubled in number in a systematic manner, it could protect three populations of every Australian predator-susceptible threatened mammal taxon.

(attached)

 

Seventeen fenced and 101 island havens contain 188 populations of 38 predator-susceptible threatened mammal taxa (32 species). Populations within fences are mostly translocated (43 of 49; 88%). Islands contain translocated populations (30 of 139; 22%); but also protect in situ (109) threatened mammal populations. Future investment in havens should focus on locations that favour taxa with no (or low) existing haven representation. Although havens can be critical for avoiding extinctions in the short term, they cover a minute proportion of species’ former ranges.

 

Future fire scenarios: Predicting the effect of fire management strategies on the trajectory of high-quality habitat for threatened species (attached) We forward projected management scenarios over 21 years to explore how the operationally realistic implementation of four different prescribed burn targets, covering 5, 3, 1.5 and 0% of a large reserve per annum (p.a.) might affect provision and removal of fire-mediated habitat of 11 rare and threatened bird species in the mallee (Malleefowl, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Regent, Mallee Emu-wren, Striated Grass-wren, Shy Heath-wren, Black-eared Miner, Southern Scrub-robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Red-lored Whistler, and Gilbert's Whistler). Strategies reliant upon persistently high levels of prescribed burning are likely to have negative effects on a number of threatened species already considered vulnerable due to their low populations and restricted ranges.

Opportunities and barriers for endangered species conservation using payments for ecosystem services PES cannot overcome the perceived burdens of species protection regulations and are unlikely to increase collaboration between landowners and government agencies. PES programs should be framed as voluntary conservation incentives. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320718313624?dgcid=raven_sd_via_email

Measuring the surrogacy potential of charismatic megafauna species across taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity on a megadiverse island Habitat overlaps between each of the four charismatic species and the other mammal species (184 spp.) varied from 2%-52%. Wide‐ranging charismatic species can represent broader mammalian biodiversity, but they may miss some key areas with high biodiversity importance. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13360

Adaptive management informs conservation and monitoring of Australia's threatened malleefowl. (Attached)

Know your enemy? Conservation management causes loss of antipredator behaviour to novel predators in New Zealand robins Robins within predator proof fences lost their antipredator behaviours https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347219300156

 

 

A survey on zoo mortality over a 12-year period in Italy. Disease was the most common cause of death.

 

 

Assisted Reproductive Technologies for Endangered Species Conservation: Developing sophisticated protocols with limited access to animals with unique reproductive mechanisms https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/biolre/ioz025/5320888

Breakthroughs and new horizons in reproductive biology of rare and endangered animal species  The objective of the review is to highlight recent, inspiring breakthroughs in wildlife reproduction science that will set directions for future research and lead to more successes in conservation biology https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biolre/ioz031/5322158

 

 

 

Naïve rainforest frogs on Cape York, Australia, are at risk of the introduction of amphibian chytridiomycosis disease http://www.publish.csiro.au/ZO/fulltext/ZO18041?subscribe=false

Bats as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance determinants: A survey of class 1 integrons in Grey-headed Flying Foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567134819300176

 

 

 

Conservation of vertebrates and plants in Uganda: Identifying Key Biodiversity Areas and other sites of national importance https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Plumptre/publication/331213714_Conservation_of_vertebrates_and_plants_in_Uganda_Identifying_Key_Biodiversity_Areas_and_other_sites_of_national_importance/links/5c6d12ef92851c1c9deedd56/Conservation-of-vertebrates-and-plants-in-Uganda-Identifying-Key-Biodiversity-Areas-and-other-sites-of-national-importance.pdf