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Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 • Defining conservation biology • Valuation of biodiversity • Threats to biodiversity • Solutions for conservation challenges • Sustainability Living in ways that do not degrade resources on which future generations depend, allowing civilization to

Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

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Page 1: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Conservation BiologyDonald Winslow, 28 January 2011

• Defining conservation biology

• Valuation of biodiversity

• Threats to biodiversity

• Solutions for conservation challenges

• Sustainability– Living in ways that do not degrade

resources on which future generations depend, allowing civilization to persist.

Page 2: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Defining Conservation Biology

• The natural world

• World ecosystems

• Biodiversity conservation

• History of conservation biology

Page 3: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Valuation of Biodiversity

• Extrinsic values– Economic uses of species– Medical uses of species– Genetic resources– Ecosystem services

• Intrinsic value

Page 4: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Threats to biodiversity

• Human population growth• Human industry and resource use• Extinction of species• Loss of genetic diversity• Habitat change• Overexploitation• Invasive species & disease• Climate change

Page 5: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Habitat change

• Habitat destruction

• Habitat degradation

• Fragmentation

Page 6: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Habitat destruction

• Primary cause of biodiversity loss

• 80+% of threatened species affected by habitat destruction or degradation

• A decrease in habitat availability decreases the number of breeding territories and thus population productivity.

Page 7: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Destruction vs. degradation

• Destruction: Changed to such an extent that one or more ecological populations can no longer use the habitat.

• Degradation: Habitat still used, but individuals have lower fitness and populations reduced viability.

Page 8: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Habitat fragmentation—loss of contiguity as well as area.

Page 9: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Neotropical Migrant Birds

Winter in tropics in Central and South America.

Breed in temperate North America during the spring & summer.

Long-term continental declines have been observed in a number of species.

Page 10: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) incubating

Page 11: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Hatching Wood Thrush nest next to regeneration opening

Page 12: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Breeding Bird Surveyhttp://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs

Page 13: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Neotropical migrants are dependent on:

• Breeding habitat• Migratory stopover sites• Winter habitat• Therefore, long-distant migrants link the

ecosystems of the hemisphere, and

• They are vulnerable to threats in each of these habitats.

Page 14: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Threats on breeding grounds:

• Habitat destruction.• Habitat degradation.• Habitat fragmentation.• Brood parasitism by Brown-headed

Cowbirds (Molothrus ater).• Nest predation by various nest predators.• Agricultural pesticides reduce food

availability and poison birds.

Page 15: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Human land-use patterns affect the abundance, distribution, & activity of

cowbirds & nest predators

• Cowbirds feed in pastures, agricultural fields and lawns.

• Cowbirds and many nest predators

(e.g. Blue Jays, rat snakes, and raccoons) use forest edges.

Page 16: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater)

• Do not build their own nests.

• Lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.

• Often remove a host egg from the nest.

• The host parents raise the cowbird young.

• Cowbird nestlings out-compete host young and sometimes push them from the nest.

Page 17: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater)

Page 18: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Nests parasitized by cowbirds

Page 19: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Nest predators in Midwestern forests include:

• Blue Jays and crows.

• Snakes, such as the black rat snake.

• Large mammals, such as racoons and skunks.

• Small mammals, such as squirrels and mice.

• Many other birds and mammals may harm eggs and nestlings if given a chance.

Page 20: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) preying on Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) nest.

Page 21: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Edge Effects on Cowbird Parasitism

Page 22: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

An “edge” is the border or transition between two habitat types.

• Agricultural edges

• Urban or suburban edges

• Roads

• Internal edges from clearcuts or maintained wildlife openings

Page 23: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Timber is extracted from Indiana state forests using individual and group selection techniques

• Individual selection—Individual trees are removed from within a harvest tract.

• Group selection—Small openings are created by removing groups of trees.

• Site preparation entails the construction and maintenance of roads, skid trails, and log landings.

• These methods generate high edge density.

Page 24: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Regeneration opening, Compartment 1, Tract 16

Page 25: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Acadian Flycatcher(Empidonax virescens)

• Breeds in eastern United States.• Winters in Central and South America.• Nests in mature forest, May-August.• Nest suspended from fork in branch, typically 3-

7 m high.• Clutch size usually 3.• Female incubates.• Both parents feed young.

Page 26: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Checking the contents of a Red-eyed Vireo nest.

Page 27: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Objective—Experimentally evaluate the effects of logging in Yellowwood State Forest on nest survival and cowbird parasitism level.

Hypothesis—Timber extraction decreases nest survival (by increasing predation) and increases parasitism.

Prediction—Nest survival will be lower and parasitism higher after logging than before, relative to values measured in unlogged sites.

Page 28: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Study Sites

• Nests in eight tracts in Yellowwood State Forest were monitored in 1995 & 1996. (Three were also monitored in 1994.)

• Four sites were logged between 1995 & 1996.

• The other four sites were close to rotation age but remained unlogged during 1996.

Page 29: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1995 1996

Year

OS

R

ControlTreatment

Overall Success Rate of

Acadian Flycatcher nests in Yellowwood State Forest

before (1995) and after (1996) treatment sites were logged.

Ratio of 1996 OSR ratio to 1995 OSR ratio: 0.460, p < 0.025 (one-tailed)

Treatment:Control 1.22 Treatment:Control 0.563

Page 30: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Proportion of Acadian Flycatcher nests parasitized before (1995) and after (1996) treatment sites were logged.

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

1995 1996

Year

Pro

po

rtio

n p

ara

sit

ize

d

Control

Treatment

Interaction effect: G = 3.49, df = 1, p = 0.031, (one-tailed)

Page 31: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Possible interpretations

• If factors responsible for between-year variation operate similarly in both sets of sites, the observed interactions between year and treatment may indicate logging decreases breeding success.

• Alternatively, site-specific processes at control tracts may have caused higher success in 1996.

Page 32: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Lessons from Indiana

• Where avian conservation is a priority in eastern deciduous forests, timber extraction should be limited until effects on nesting success are understood.

• Special attention should be given to monitoring breeding success of bird species that preferentially select edge habitats.

Page 33: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Solutions to conservation challenges

• Population level

• Species level—in situ and ex situ

• Ecosystem level—protection & restoration

• Landscape level

• Regional level

• Global level

• Conserving evolutionary processes

Page 34: Conservation Biology Donald Winslow, 28 January 2011 Defining conservation biology Valuation of biodiversity Threats to biodiversity Solutions for conservation

Sustainability

Sustainable practices are practices that can continue indefinitely—without depleting or degrading resources needed to continue.

Agriculture

Industry

Economy

Human relations