Strategies PRESERVE species AND HABITATS

1. Strategies PRESERVE species AND HABITATS D Oehlke March, 2011

2. “It's obvious that the key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life - for 8 billion or more people - without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt. “ • E. O. Wilson

3. Conservation of species - strategies • Legislation to protect endangered species and conserve habitats (CITES. UNEP, UNESCO) • Zoos, captive breeding programs and possible release • Botanic gardens and seed banks • Nature reserves to preserve habitats and hopefully species

4. Species - based conservation legislation • The CITES agreement (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) • Agreements between governments are set up to protect species that are endangered due to international trade. • CITES has successfully reduced trade in endangered species and products. • 30,000 species are currently “protected”.

5. Ex: CITES projects to protect great apes • The endangered great apes share their habitat with millions of people in west, central and east Africa and in southeast Asia. The majority of these people live below the poverty line. • http://www.unep.org/grasp/About_GRASP/index.asp

6. Captive breeding programs • What might be some of the challenges and successes of captive breeding?

7. Short-comings of captive breeding • There is a need to conserve/restore habitat – what if the habitat no longer exists? • It is expensive • Species often need support when re-introduced • Some species will never be re-introduced into the wild • Small populations create inbreeding • Focus on iconic or interesting species • Animal rights activists say that zoos are cruel

8. Loss of genetic diversity • Small populations of organisms quickly become inbred. • Managers must choose mates that are not related to preserve genetic diversity. • Zoos form organizations to keep the populations as large and as genetic diverse as possible. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/EndangeredSpecies/ManageSmallPops/default.cfm

9. Released animals need extra support and care • The animals often need a lot of space and habitat • Animals are sometimes bred in order to be released, but what if the habitat is lost? • Animals sometimes need to learn to live without human support. • Sometimes the animals are no longer afraid of humans, making them vulnerable to poaching.

10. Orangutans • It can be hard to re-introduce animals born in captivity into the wild because the animals are not taught by their parents how to survive.

11. Exeter University Study: • “Reintroductions involving such carnivores as lynx, Amur tiger, cheetah, brown bear and otter, and found only one in three captive-bred animals released into their natural habitat survived.” • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3322397/Carnivores-released-into-wild-fail-and-die.html

12. Release of carnivore study continued • Captive-bred animals were too trusting of humans • Some starved to death because they did not know how to hunt • Half of the animals were killed by humans in car accidents and shootings.

13. 5 wolves released into Yellowstone National Park were shot by ranchers bordering the park • Thanks to a controversial but very successful reintroduction program, wolves are now back in Yellowstone after an absence of almost 70 years. Several dozen wolves were captured in Canada and turned loose in Yellowstone In March 1995.

14. 46 captive – bred lynx were released in Switzerland, only 15 survived. • http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/alps/news/index.cfm?uPage=2

15. Captive breeding issues • Traits that allow animals to live in the wild can be lost in captive breeding • The processes of natural selection do not occur in zoos as they do in the wild

16. California Condor success! • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/california-condor/

17. Black footed ferret • The Black footed ferret once was common in the prairies in Canada and the USA • Since 1992, the Toronto Zoo has raised 413 kits for release into the wild • http://www.torontozoo.com/conservation/captive-breeding.asp

18. Captive Breeding – success? • The Golden Lion Tamarin of Brazil • 120 zoos around the world contribute by breeding these animals to be released into the wild • The conservation plan started in the 1960’s • Locals are involved in maintaining the habitat and reserves

19. Arguments in support of zoos and captive breeding programs • Keep species alive in captivity if not possible to maintain live populations • Educate the public • Is this better than nothing or does it hold possibilities for the future?

20. Some species are extinct in the wild but now thrive in zoos and preserves • Przewalski’s horse, Pere David’s Deer

21. The Arabian Oryx • The Phoenix Zoo is credited with saving the Arabian Oryx from extinction. • In 1962 they started the first captive-breeding herd in any zoo, starting with 9 animals. • Oryx were sent to other zoos to start their herds. • By 1990, the number of Arabian Oryx had increased to over 1300 including 112 captive bred ones which were reintroduced back to the wild in preserves Oman and Saudi Arabia. • http://www.phoenixzoo.org/learn/animals/animal_detail.aspx?FACT_SHEET_ID=100003

22. Botanical Gardens at Kew, London • Seed banks, 250 years of research, conservation of plant and fungal species • http://www.kew.org/

23. Seed bank in Svalbard, Norway stores seeds in the permafrost • http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/lmd/campain/svalbard-global-seed-vault.html

24. What is the purpose of the seed bank? • Keep biodiversity “safe” • Avoid loss of rare plant species • Maintain species and genetic diversity

25. Reserves and Parks • Where should the reserves be? • SLOSS debate: Single large or several small? • What could be the issues in this debate?

26. UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme 500 or more reserves

27. Single large • Good for top carnivores • Minimum edge effects • May provide more habitats for more species

28. Several small • Insurance against a disaster, such as a fire • May provide more habitats for more species • Near a city, could be educational • Greater edge effects

29. Shape of reserves? • Which is better: round or long and thin?

30. Round is better • Long and thin has more edge effects than round • To be honest, the shape is determined by whatever land is available for the reserve

31. Buffer zones help • A zone around the reserve • Some farming, some selective logging allowed • The core reserve is left undisturbed

33. Wildlife Corridors • Corridors between reserves allows individuals to move between the reserves • Increases size of the gene pool • Allows seasonal migration • May spread disease or make it easier for poachers

34. Wildlife corridors in India • A response to habitat fragmentation • http://www.wildlifetrustofindia.org/project-in-focus/nov2008-national-elephant-corridor-project.html

35. Which is better? Why?

36. Which is better?

37. Which is better?

38. Which is better?

39. Which is better?

40. Discuss and evaluate the following approaches for the conservation of biodiversity • Legislation and conserving habitats • Zoos, captive breeding and reintroduction programs • Botanic gardens and seed banks • Nature reserves