The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk
Abstract Conservation of species at risk of extinction is complex and multifaceted. However, mitigation strategies are typically narrow in scope, an artifact of conservation research that is often limited to a single species or stressor. Knowledge of an entire community of strongly interacting speci...
Published in: | Conservation Biology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Other Authors: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2018
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13233 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fcobi.13233 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cobi.13233 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/cobi.13233 |
id |
crwiley:10.1111/cobi.13233 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwiley:10.1111/cobi.13233 2024-09-15T17:36:17+00:00 The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk Burgar, Joanna M. Burton, A. Cole Fisher, Jason T. Alberta Environment and Parks 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13233 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fcobi.13233 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cobi.13233 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/cobi.13233 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Conservation Biology volume 33, issue 3, page 709-715 ISSN 0888-8892 1523-1739 journal-article 2018 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13233 2024-08-09T04:20:10Z Abstract Conservation of species at risk of extinction is complex and multifaceted. However, mitigation strategies are typically narrow in scope, an artifact of conservation research that is often limited to a single species or stressor. Knowledge of an entire community of strongly interacting species would greatly enhance the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of conservation decisions. We investigated how camera trapping and spatial count models, an extension of spatial‐recapture models for unmarked populations, can accomplish this through a case study of threatened boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) . Population declines in caribou are precipitous and well documented, but recovery strategies focus heavily on control of wolves (Canis lupus) and pay less attention to other known predators and apparent competitors. Obtaining necessary data on multispecies densities has been difficult. We used spatial count models to concurrently estimate densities of caribou, their predators (wolf, black bear [Ursus americanus] , and coyote [Canis latrans] ), and alternative prey (moose [ Alces alces ] and white‐tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus] ) from a camera‐trap array in a highly disturbed landscape within northern Alberta's Oil Sands Region. Median densities were 0.22 caribous (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI] = 0.08–0.65), 0.77 wolves (95% BCI = 0.26–2.67), 2.39 moose (95% BCI = 0.56–7.00), 2.64 coyotes (95% BCI = 0.45–6.68), and 3.63 black bears (95% BCI = 1.25–8.52) per 100 km 2 . (The white‐tailed deer model did not converge.) Although wolf densities were higher than densities recommended for caribou conservation, we suggest the markedly higher black bear and coyote densities may be of greater concern, especially if government wolf control further releases these species. Caribou conservation with a singular focus on wolf control may leave caribou vulnerable to other predators. We recommend a broader focus on the interacting species within a community when conserving species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Wiley Online Library Conservation Biology 33 3 709 715 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Conservation of species at risk of extinction is complex and multifaceted. However, mitigation strategies are typically narrow in scope, an artifact of conservation research that is often limited to a single species or stressor. Knowledge of an entire community of strongly interacting species would greatly enhance the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of conservation decisions. We investigated how camera trapping and spatial count models, an extension of spatial‐recapture models for unmarked populations, can accomplish this through a case study of threatened boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) . Population declines in caribou are precipitous and well documented, but recovery strategies focus heavily on control of wolves (Canis lupus) and pay less attention to other known predators and apparent competitors. Obtaining necessary data on multispecies densities has been difficult. We used spatial count models to concurrently estimate densities of caribou, their predators (wolf, black bear [Ursus americanus] , and coyote [Canis latrans] ), and alternative prey (moose [ Alces alces ] and white‐tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus] ) from a camera‐trap array in a highly disturbed landscape within northern Alberta's Oil Sands Region. Median densities were 0.22 caribous (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI] = 0.08–0.65), 0.77 wolves (95% BCI = 0.26–2.67), 2.39 moose (95% BCI = 0.56–7.00), 2.64 coyotes (95% BCI = 0.45–6.68), and 3.63 black bears (95% BCI = 1.25–8.52) per 100 km 2 . (The white‐tailed deer model did not converge.) Although wolf densities were higher than densities recommended for caribou conservation, we suggest the markedly higher black bear and coyote densities may be of greater concern, especially if government wolf control further releases these species. Caribou conservation with a singular focus on wolf control may leave caribou vulnerable to other predators. We recommend a broader focus on the interacting species within a community when conserving species. |
author2 |
Alberta Environment and Parks |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Burgar, Joanna M. Burton, A. Cole Fisher, Jason T. |
spellingShingle |
Burgar, Joanna M. Burton, A. Cole Fisher, Jason T. The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
author_facet |
Burgar, Joanna M. Burton, A. Cole Fisher, Jason T. |
author_sort |
Burgar, Joanna M. |
title |
The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
title_short |
The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
title_full |
The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
title_fullStr |
The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
title_full_unstemmed |
The importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
title_sort |
importance of considering multiple interacting species for conservation of species at risk |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13233 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fcobi.13233 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cobi.13233 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/cobi.13233 |
genre |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Conservation Biology volume 33, issue 3, page 709-715 ISSN 0888-8892 1523-1739 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13233 |
container_title |
Conservation Biology |
container_volume |
33 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
709 |
op_container_end_page |
715 |
_version_ |
1810488509130080256 |