Announcements

1. Announcements This week: Wednesday - Review Friday - Exam 3 (here and in 100 Greg Hall) Next week: Monday and Wednesday - Human Sociobiology Final Exam - Friday, May 11, 8 am

2. What is Conservation Biology? “The Science of Scarcity and Diversity” Soule 1986

3. What is Conservation Biology? “A new synthesis of many basic sciences that provides principles and new approaches for the applied fields of resource management”. Temple 1991

4. What is Conservation Biology? “A multidisciplinary science that has developed to deal with the crisis confronting biological diversity. Goals: to investigate human impacts on biological diversity, and to develop practical approaches to prevent the extinction of species.” Primack 1993

5. What is Conservation Biology? “An integrative science pertaining to the preservation of species, ecosystems, and their diversity.”

6. Books and Edited Volumes Caro , T. (ed.). 1998. Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Biology. Oxford University Press, New York, New York. Clemmons, J.R., and R. Buchholz (eds.). 1997. Behavioral Approaches to Conservation in the Wild. Cambridge University Press, New York, New York. Festa-Bianchet , M. and M. Apollonio (eds.) 2003. Animal Behavior and Wildlife Conservation. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Gosling, L.M., and W.J. Sutherland (eds.). 2000. Behaviour and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, New York, New York. Sutherland, W.J. 1996. From Individual Behaviour to Population Ecology. Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution. Oxford University Press, New York, New York.

7. Issues in Conservation Biology that can benefit from the study of Animal Behavior: Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Species Management Plans Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Biological Invasions

8. Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Programs Captive Breeding Need to know requirements for breeding Social structure Komodo Dragon

9. Published online 21 December 2006 Parthenogenesis in Komodo dragons Phillip C. Watts, Kevin R. Buley, Stephanie Sanderso, Wayne Boardman, Claudio Ciofi and Richard Gibson Should males and females be kept together to avoid triggering virgin birth in these endangered reptiles? Parthenogenesis, the production of offspring without fertilization by a male, is rare in vertebrate species, which usually reproduce after fusion of male and female gametes. Here we use genetic fingerprinting to identify parthenogenetic offspring produced by two female Komodo dragons ( Varanus komodoensis ) that had been kept at separate institutions and isolated from males; one of these females subsequently produced additional offspring sexually. This reproductive plasticity indicates that female Komodo dragons may switch between asexual and sexual reproduction, depending on the availability of a mate — a finding that has implications for the breeding of this threatened species in captivity. Most zoos keep only females, with males being moved between zoos for mating, but perhaps they should be kept together to avoid triggering parthenogenesis and thereby decreasing genetic diversity.

10. Captive Breeding and Reintroduction Programs Reintroductions Many reintroduction attempts fail because captive bred animals lack “skills” needed to survive. recognize and respond to predators locate food and water distinguish toxic from palatable food recognize conspecifics as mates

11. interspecific recognition predator / prey interactions host / parasite interactions naïve prey responding to cues of introduced predators learned response innate response Rana aurora bullfrogs and crayfish Pearl et al. 2003 New Zealand Robin and mustellids Maloney & McLean 1995

12. California condor Imprinting on humans affected the ability of animals reintroduced in the wild to associate with other condors and breed.

13. Species management and viability • Population size (N) versus Effective Population size (Ne) Female deaths reduce Ne Monogamous species N = Ne parental care requires both parents to be present hard to find mates at low population sizes Polygynous species N >> Ne killing of dominant males leads to mating of “less fit males” choosy females don’t mate?

14. Species Management and viability B. Specific habitat or nesting requirements mating systems leks cavities and old growth forests

15. Essen (1991) Attempted to change nesting locations and migratory routes lesser white fronted goose to help conserve threatened population in Sweden

16. whooping crane sand hill crane

18. “The cheetah controversy” 1983 Steve O’Brian and colleagues Cheetah has very low genetic diversity - suffer high juvenile mortality - impaired reproduction (low sperm viability) - increased susceptibility to disease

19. “The cheetah controversy” 1994 Caugley and Merola Low genetic diversity, big deal - lots of carnivores have low levels of diversity and low sperm viability. - No direct link between lack of diversity and juvenile mortality

20. “The cheetah controversy” 1994 Caro and Laurenson Long term behavioral studies showed that cub mortality result of predation by lions and hyenas while mother was out foraging.

21. “The cheetah controversy” 1998 Kevin Crooks and colleagues Using demographic data, examined which life stage makes cheetah populations most vulnerable to decline Cheetahs go into estrus immediately after cubs die Small increases in adult mortality have greater effect on population than cub mortality.

23. Under old law, no dolphins are to be encircled by tuna purse seine nets in order to be able to claim a dolphin safe label. New US government label would mean that such nets can be set on dolphins, but that "no serious injury or mortality" of dolphins can be observed.

24. Consequences of hunting on species’ biology Hunters also use sexually selected traits to assess value…

25. expected… Number of mates / longevity Horn size Undesirable evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting Coltman et al. 2003 Nature.

26. 2005 1970 Undesirable evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting Coltman et al. 2003. Nature.

27. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Dispersal Corridor Use Edge Effects Home Range Size Influenced by: Social Structure abundance and density Mating Systems area and resource requirements

28. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Dispersal Corridor Use Edge Effects Home Range Size

30. Home range size can determine which / how many species persist in a fragmented landscape. Crooks 2002 Con. Biol.

31. Biological Invasions Introduced (non-native, exotic) - species introduced deliberately or accidentally from somewhere else Invasive species - species that spread subsequent to establishment usually at some cost.

32. Biological Invasions Competitive displacement of native species behavioral mechanisms of success Determining patterns and rate of spread dispersal (natural versus human mediated) “hyperconnectivity” Establishment Success sociality and allee effects