Optimizing the use of endangered species in multi-population collection, captive breeding and release programs
Authored by Julie A Heinrichs, Donald T McKinnon, Cameron L Aldridge, Axel Moehrenschlager
Date Published: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00558
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Abstract
Evaluating the spectrum of risks and rewards of captive breeding and
release is central to identifying responsible conservation actions for
declining species. Trade-offs among source, captive, and target wild
populations are expected when optimizing the use of the last few
remaining individuals of a population. Yet few analyses are conducted to
optimize the choice of source population from which animals are
collected and released. Using linked scenarios, we evaluated the risks
and rewards of collection, ex situ rearing, and release of endangered
Greater Sage-grouse in Canada. We integrated demographic rates from
captive populations with wild population abundance, demography, and
habitat relationships in a spatially explicit individual-based model
framework for multiple populations across national and international
borders. We quantified the potential for released birds to improve wild
abundance and reduce extinction risk in two target wild populations. To
gain general insight, we compared risks and rewards among different
source and target population sizes and trajectories. The risks caused by
removing individuals from the wild depended on the number of animals
removed, and source abundance and trajectory, and were partially
obscured by stochasticity. Releases into small and rapidly declining
populations provided the greatest near-term reductions in extinction
risk, but improvements were short-term. Yet releases into larger and
more stable populations resulted in longer lasting conservation benefits
than in more vulnerable populations but required greater initial release
effort. Systematic modeling approaches that evaluate a spectrum of
trade-offs and quantify conservation risks and benefits can help direct
the expectations and effort invested in captive breeding and release
programs. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Tags
Individual-based model
Conservation
fitness
Survival
Recovery
Reinforcement
Greater sage-grouse
Reintroduction
Hexsim
Captive breeding
Conservation translocation
Sage-grouse