Selecting Focal Species for a Comprehensive Ecosystem

Umbrella

Existing Selection Approaches

• Vulnerable Species• Endemic Species• Flagship Species• Phylogenetically Distinct/Evolutionarily Important• EDGE• Taxonomic Groupings• Indicator Species• Umbrella Species• Keystone Species• Focal Species• Landscape Species

5 criteria for selecting5 criteria for selectinglandscape specieslandscape species

area vulnerability

functionalityheterogeneity

socio-economic significance

Selecting Landscape Species Selecting Landscape Species

Choosing a Focal Species Suite to Create a Complete Conservation Umbrella

Goals:• Conserve sufficient quantity and quality of all major habitat types to

support ecologically functional populations of all native species present in the planning area.

• Implement mitigation strategies that effectively reduce the impact of all activities that significantly threaten the persistence of any native species to levels that insure a high likelihood of persistence for the next 100 years.

• Ensure the continuation of all natural ecosystem processes (either through natural occurrence or simulation by prescription) that are necessary for the long-term persistence of all native species within their natural range of variability of abundance.

• Respect the importance of wildlife to local economies and culture, and implementing strategies to maximize positive, and minimizes negative, effects of wildlife on these economies while preserving cultural values.

Complete Conservation Requires Multiple Umbrellas

Area

•Complete Communities- all native species in natural abundance

•Complete Ecosystem Function•Human Values

HabitatThreats

Processes

Hierarchy of Conservation Needs

AreaSufficient area to support individuals and populations at ecologically functional levels

Habitat Availability of appropriate habitat types in sufficient quantity and quality to support individuals and populations

SecuritySecurity from direct and indirect threats that threaten the survival or natural abundance of individuals or populations

Ecological Processes

Allow or simulate natural processes to sustain natural habitat heterogeneity

Social Acceptance

Public values that support conservation

Using Focal Species to Address Conservation Needs

Need Focal Species Attribute

Area Landscape SpeciesSelect large area generalists to protect sufficient area and diversity of habitat types

Habitat Habitat TypesMake sure suite of focal species covers all major habitat types in the area

Security Threats

Make sure suite of focal species covers all major threats that impact wildlife populations in the area

Ecological Processes Ecological Processes and Key Species

Include key species needed to maintain natural community, and species that depend on ecological processes to sustain ecologically functional populations

Social Acceptance Socio-economic ValuesIdentify values that compliment or conflict with conservation objectives

Preparation

• List of native species sorted by area requirements

• List of major habitat types in planning area• List of major threats in planning area• List of important ecological processes• List of key species• List of important socio-economic values

http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildfinder/

Candidate Species Major HabitatTypes

Major Threats Key Species Important Ecological Processes

Important Socio-Economic Values

American BadgerAmerican BeaverAmerican BisonAmerican Black BearAmerican KestrelAmerican MartenAmerican MinkAmerican PikaBig Brown BatBighorn SheepBlack-tailed JackrabbitBlue GrouseBobcatBoreal Chorus FrogBoreal OwlBull SnakeBushy-tailed WoodratCalifornia MyotisCanada LynxCinereus ShrewColumbian Ground SquirrelCommon RavenCooper's HawkCougarCoyoteDeer MouseDesert CottontailDwarf ShrewElkErmineFerruginous HawkFisherGolden EagleGolden-mantled Ground SquirrelGray WolfGreat Basin Pocket MouseGreat Gray OwlGreat Horned OwlGrizzly BearHispid Pocket MouseHoary BatLeast ChipmunkLittle Brown BatLong-billed CurlewLong-eared MyotisLong-eared Owl

Long-legged MyotisLong-tailed VoleLong-tailed WeaselMeadow VoleMerriam's ShrewMontane ShrewMontane VoleMooseMountain CottontailMule DeerMuskratNorth American PorcupineNorthern Flying SquirrelNorthern GoshawkNorthern Grasshopper MouseNorthern HarrierNorthern Pocket GopherNorthern Pygmy-OwlNorthern RaccoonNorthern River OtterNorthern Saw-whet OwlNorthern ShrikeOrd's Kangaroo RatPrairie Vole Preble's ShrewPronghornRed FoxRed SquirrelRed-tailed ChipmunkRed-tailed HawkRichardson's Ground SquirrelRough-legged HawkRuffed GrouseSage GrouseSagebrush VoleSharp-shinned HawkShort-eared OwlSilver-haired BatSnowshoe HareSouthern Red-backed VoleSpotted BatSpruce GrouseStriped Skunk

Swainson's HawkTiger SalamanderTownsend's Big-eared BatTurkey VultureUinta ChipmunkUinta Ground SquirrelVagrant ShrewWater ShrewWater VoleWestern Harvest MouseWestern Heather VoleWestern Jumping MouseWestern RattlesnakeWestern Screech-OwlWestern ToadWestern Small-footed MyotisWhite-footed MouseWhite-tailed DeerWhite-tailed JackrabbitWolverineWyoming Ground SquirrelWyoming Pocket GopherYellow-bellied MarmotYellow-pine ChipmunkYuma Myotis

AgricultureAlpine MeadowAspenFoothill Shrub/Xeric WoodlandLentic Water Lotic WaterMesic ShrubMontane ConiferNative GrasslandNon-Native GrassRecently Burnt ForestRiparian ForestRiparian ShrubRock/Cliff/TalusShrub-steppeSubalpine ForestWetlands (Marsh)

DewateringExotic DiseaseFarmingFencingFireFire SuppressionFishingGrazingHarvest (Hunting)Homesite DevelopmentInvasive AliensLoss Of Ecosystem IntegrityManagement/Predator ControlMigratory SensitivityMineral MiningMotorized RecreationNonmotorized RecreationNonnative IntroductionsOil/Gas/CbmPollutionPowerlinesRoad Chemical/SedimentationRoadingTimber HarvestVehicular TrafficWeed/Pest Control

American BeaverAmerican BisonElk?Gray Wolf

Periodic FireGrazingRiparian Flooding

Sport Hunting and FishingCattle Ranching and Rural LifestyleOpen Space, Wild Areas, and Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Species Area Requirements

Five functional categories• Large Landscape

– Classic landscape species – Habitat generalists requiring large contiguous, or connected areas of habitat

(> 500 ha).• Meso-scale

– require moderately size contiguous habitat areas (~ 5 - 500 ha).• Habitat Selectors

– travel between relatively small habitat patches but not sensitive to habitat changes between patches.

• Restricted or Sedentary– Small home ranges < 5 ha

• Habitat Specialists– Majority of seasonal use tied to one, or few habitat types.– Critical habitats often small patch sizes

• Microhabitat Specialists– Restricted to very specific and very small habitats (e.g. warm springs)

Species Pool Land Area Requireme

nt Category

Cohort 1 Cohort 2 Cohort 3 Cohort 4 Cohort 5 Cohort 6

WolverineSage GrouseGrizzly BearFerruginous HawkGray WolfGolden EagleAmerican BisonElkLong-billed CurlewCougarAmerican Black

BearCanada LynxWestern ToadTurkey VultureBoreal OwlPronghornBighorn SheepWestern

RattlesnakeCommon RavenMooseTiger SalamanderNorthern GoshawkCoyoteFisherMule DeerBoreal Chorus FrogBull SnakeBlue GrouseBobcatRough-legged HawkWhite-tailed DeerGreat Horned OwlRed-tailed HawkSwainson's HawkNorthern River OtterAmerican Marten

LL-1LL-1LL-2LL-2LL-3LL-3LL-4LL-4LL-4LL-5LL-6Meso-1Meso-1Meso-1Meso-2Meso-2Meso-2Meso-2Meso-3Meso-3Meso-3Meso-4Meso-4Meso-4Meso-4Meso-4Meso-4Meso-5Meso-5Meso-6Meso-6Meso-7Meso-7Meso-7Meso-7Meso-8

WolverineSage GrouseGrizzly BearFerruginous

HawkGray WolfGolden Eagle

Gray WolfGolden EagleAmerican BisonElkLong-billed

curlew CougarAmerican Black

BearCanada LynxWestern ToadTurkey Vulture Boreal Owl

PronghornBighorn SheepWestern

Rattlesnake

Common RavenMooseTiger Salamander

MooseTiger SalamanderNorthern

GoshawkCoyoteFisherMule DeerBoreal Chorus

FrogBull Snake Blue Grouse

BobcatRough-legged

HawkWhite-tailed DeerGreat-horned OwlRed-tailed HawkSwainson’s HawkNorthern River

OtterSTOP

Complete Conservation Requires Multiple Umbrellas

Habitat Threats

AgricultureAlpine Meadow

AspenFoothill Shrub/Xeric Woodland

Lentic Water Lotic WaterMesic Shrub

Montane ConiferNative GrasslandNon-Native Grass

Riparian ForestRiparian ShrubRock/Cliff/Talus

Subalpine ForestWetlands (Marsh)

Shrub-steppeRecently Burnt Forest

Dewatering (P)Exotic Disease (P)

Farming (P)Fencing

Fire Suppression (P)Fishing

Migratory Sensitivity (P)Oil/Gas/CBM (P)

Power lines

GrazingHarvest (Hunting)

Homesite DevelopmentInvasive Aliens

Loss Of Ecosystem IntegrityManagement/Predator Control

Mineral MiningMotorized Recreation

Nonmotorized RecreationNonnative Introductions

PollutionRoad Chemical/Sedimentation

RoadingTimber HarvestVehicular Traffic

Weed/Pest Control

Special Elements:

Habitats Covered Under Umbrella

Habitats Outside Cumulative Umbrella

Threats Covered Under Umbrella

Threats Outside CumulativeUmbrella

Special Elements Added to Complete Umbrella

Focal Species Suite

Sage Grouse Shrub-steppe

Recently Burnt Forest (P)

Farming (P)Oil/Gas/CBM (P)Power lines

Dewatering (P)Exotic Disease (P)FencingFire Suppression (P)FishingMigratory Sensitivity (P)

Sage GrousePronghorn Westslope CutthroatAmerican Beaver – key species (replaces otter)Black-backed Woodpecker

Grizzly BearElkWestern ToadBighorn SheepNorthern GoshawkNorthern River Otter – replaced by beaver as special elementSpecial Elements:Sage GrousePronghornWestslope CutthroatAmerican BeaverBlack-backed Woodpecker

Pronghorn Recently Burnt Forest (P)

FencingMigratory Sensitivity (P)

Dewatering (P)Exotic Disease (P)Fire Suppression (P)Fishing

Westslope Cutthroat

Recently Burnt Forest (P)

Dewatering (P)Exotic Disease (P)Fishing

Fire Suppression (P)

American Beaver

Lotic Water Recently Burnt Forest (P)

Fire Suppression (P)

Black-backed Woodpecker

Recently Burnt

Fire Suppression (P)

Completing the Conservation Umbrellas

Complete Conservation Requires Multiple Umbrellas

Area

•Complete Communities- all native species in natural abundance

•Complete Ecosystem Function•Human Values

HabitatThreats

Processes