Monitoring and management needs in bird conservation for the Pacific region

Transcription

1 Monitoring and management needs in bird conservation for the Pacific region in a changing climate Judit Szabo, Bob Sutherst and Hugh Possingham TheEcology Centre, University of Queensland and Applied Environmental Decision Analysis Research Facility Australia

2 Endemic Bird Areas (BirdLife International) 218 regions where distributions of two or more restricted range bird species overlap. 30 EBAs (# ) in the Pacific.

3 Speed of evolution Endemic subspecies: at least 1000sof years Endemic species or genus: 100s of 1000s to 1,000,000s New Caledonia (80+ MYA) 1 E family (1 sp Kagu), 4 E genera, 14 E species, 26 E subspecies Number of island forms of different genus among Pacific islands: Zosterops 33 Halcyon 28 Pachycephala25 Ptilinopus23

4 High level of endemism among birdspecies of thepacific islands. These species therefore represent an important worldwide biodiversity asset deserving special attention.

5 Inherent sensitivity of island birds to extinction Reasons: Differential dispersal (sedentariness + flightlessness) Smaller populations and ranges However, some paleo endemics have persisted itdfor millions of years assumed relative stability of habitats But also more vulnerable to human caused extinction

6 Polynesian and European legacy Most threatened bird species/unit land, or /person in the world ¼ of world's globally threatened bird species ~ 1200 extinct landbird species (Cumutt and Pimm 2001) 127 of them in the last 400 yrs Rt f di 40 f t Rate of disappearance 40x faster than in continental species

7 Polynesian Ground dove Marquesan Imperial pigeon Tuamotu Kingfisher Critically endangered species = facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild Tahiti Monarch Pictures from Fatu Hiva Monarch

8 Philippe Raust Philippe Raust Pete Morris Phoenix Petrel Tuamotu Sandpiper Marquesas Ground dove Endangered g species p = facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild Kuhl's Lorikeet Ultramarine Lorikeet Phil Bender Pete Morris Marq. Kingfisher A. Gouni Marquesan Monarch D. D Saulnier

9 Habitat destruction Predatory mammals Polynesian y Natural disasters and climate change E European introductions i t d ti Disturbance and other exploitation Birds Insects Alien l animals

10 One component of the human induced global change: climate change Species abundance and distribution will be affected and changes in habitatsandfoodsources and sources areexpected. We can t stop it from happening, but we can manage the change to minimise losses.

11 What should we do? Monitoring Interpretive ti studies Adaptive management

12 1. Monitoring Repeatable,,quantified surveys to assess population p size and trends to: assess conservation status establish management and conservation priorities reveal geographical and seasonal changes in species occurrence ascertain and predict immediate or cumulative effects of habitat change differentiate between the effects of changes in climate, land use and land cover determine the effects of management so it can be adapted to meet its objectives

13 2. Interpretive studies of most landbirds in Oceania no information about: distributions (inter and intra island) island) population sizes/trends habitat preference potential vulnerabilities feeding ecology nesting ecology All of these need studying for informed and optimal monitoring and management

14 = Learning by doing. 3. Adaptive management Structured, iterative process of optimal decision making in the face of uncertainty, with an aim to reducing uncertainty over time via system monitoring. Key features Iterative decision making Feedback between monitoring and decisions Explicit characterization of system uncertainty through multi model inference Bayesian inference Embracing risk and uncertainty asaa way of building understanding

15 Minimise impacts of CC on Biodiversity Climate proofing proofing biodiversity: manage known, existing threats such as feral predators, invasion of weeds, habitat destruction and habitat degradation ( = sufficient habitat with adequate structural complexity and connectivity) + if necessary other solutions (translocations?) Projections of climate change should be taken into account in biodiversity management, including reserve design, land clearing considerations and recovery plans.

16 How should we do it? Cost effectiveness = expected benefit/cost maximisethe number of species saved (considering their value) for a given budget Action prioritisation based on biodiversity benefits biodiversity benefits costs likelihood of success

17 Collaboration climate change biodiversity and invasive species researchers As well asinterdisciplinary: witheconomistsand sociologist Collaboration and common goals of researchers managers and Collaboration and common goals of researchers, managers and policy makers