problem solving workshop 2 (lecture 13)

Question 1

Key terms:

• diagnose
• action plan
• conservation status

Answer 1

diagnose
- research programme

action plan
- conservation programme

conservation status

• is it threatened?
• i.e IUCN red list status

Question 2

• botanical survey
• uplands of an oceanic island
• lowlands lost all natural vegetation
• natural habitat patches remain in upland
• a few individuals of an annual plant species new to science in a patch close to summit

describe and justify a plan to:

• diagnose threats to its survival
• conserve the species

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE THREATS?

Answer 2

• habitat loss
• habitat fragmentation
• habita degradation
• climate change
• small population paradigm: stochastic, environmental and demographic events, inbreeding
• invasive species: competing plants & grazers, including livestock

Question 3

• botanical survey
• uplands of an oceanic island
• lowlands lost all natural vegetation
• natural habitat patches remain in upland
• a few individuals of an annual plant species new to science in a patch close to summit

describe and justify a plan to:

• diagnose threats to its survival
• conserve the species

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO DIAGNOSE THE THREATS?

Answer 3

Habitat loss:

• random stratified survey to see which habitat types the species occurs in and variations in density e.g. using quadrats
• interview local people to see if they know of the species occurring at lower habitats or other habitat types
• maps or remote sensing to detect loss of habitat

Habitat fragmentation:
- random stratified survey to see how population densities/reproductive success vary across patches of different sizes

Habitat degradation:

• grazing: densities and seed set in areas with different grazing pressures. removal experiment to see effect
• invasive plant species: densities in areas with & without invasive species. again, removal experiment
• removal experiments link to conservation plan

Invasive species, competing plants, grazers, livestock:
- random stratified survey to see how population densities/reproductive success vary with presence of invasive species, competitors and grazers

Climate change:
- experimentally warm up patches to observe species responses: seed germination, flower production, pollination success (including trophic mismatch)
- bioclimatic envelope modelling - but need to consider
possible recent historical distribution at lower elevations

Small population size:

• study to look at allee effects and pollination
• genetic analysis of genetic diversity

Question 4

• botanical survey
• uplands of an oceanic island
• lowlands lost all natural vegetation
• natural habitat patches remain in upland
• a few individuals of an annual plant species new to science in a patch close to summit

describe and justify a plan to:

• diagnose threats to its survival
• conserve the species

WHAT WOULD CONSERVATION ACTION WOULD YOU TAKE?

Answer 4

• look for species on nearby islands
• take seeds to establish captive population, check
  for seed bank and encourage its regermination
• restrict habitat loss within patches containing
  species (discuss voluntary & legal restrictions)
• consider alternative incomes for locals, such as
  ecotourism
• other specific actions depend on threat diagnosis
• species-recovery curve: diagnosis, solution testing, deployment of solution, sustainable management