JurassicPark?Nothanks
MontserratVila`1 andPhilipE. Hulme2
1Estacio´nBiolo´gicadeDon˜ana(EBD-CSIC),Avda.Ame´ricoVespucios/n,IsladelaCartuja,E-41092Sevilla,Spain
2TheBio-ProtectionResearchCentre,PO Box84,Lincoln University,Canterbury, NewZealand
Theconservationofendangeredspeciesisa majorconcernin theface ofglobal change,yetin situ effortsto maintain threatenedspeciesareoften unsuccessfulbecausethehis- toric environmentalconditionsthatsustainedpopulations ofendangeredspecies have since changeddramatically. Conservationistshave longconsideredhuman-assistedcol- onizationtomore suitableenvironmentsasanalternative approach[1].The option forassistedcolonizationhas re- ceivedrenewedinterestinthelightofpredictedimpacts of climatechangeonendangeredspecies[2].Thomas[3]fur- therdevelopsthisconservationoption and provocatively suggeststhattheUK can representan assistedregional colonizationarea(ARC)forimperiledIberianspecies.Al- thoughgeneralconcernsregarding assisted colonization alreadyexist[4],we use thespecific exampleoftheUK ARCtofurtherillustratethepitfallsofthisapproach.
First, climatechangeis notthemainthreat ofmost imperiledspeciesand there arefewexamplesofglobal speciesextinctionsowingtoclimatechange[5].Forexample, thepopulationdeclineoftheIberianlynx(Lynxpardinus) over thepast50 yearsis a resultofhumanpersecution, landscapefragmentationand disease,factorsunrelatedto climaticconditions[6].Thescarcityofextensivehigh-quality Mediterraneanshrub vegetationisaprimaryreasonforthe ineffectivenessofconservationefforts inSpain.Rabbits, althoughanecessaryconditionforpopulationpersistence oflynx,arethusnotsufficienttoensurelynxsurvivalinthe UK.Therefore,simplybecauseareasofsuitableclimateare available,translocating speciesto theseregionswill not necessarilyalleviatetherisk oftheirextinction[7].
Second, humanassistedcolonizationalreadyhas along historythroughthedeliberateand accidentalintroduction ofalienspeciesworldwide,and theseeventshave them- selvesincreasedthepressureonendangeredspecies,evenif theyhave resultedinrelativelyfewspeciesextinctions[8]. Thecomplex and interactingnegativeeffectsof introduced species on biodiversity,human health, cultural values and ecosystemservicesmightonlybecomeevidentdecades after introduction[9].Thus,eveniffewspeciesextinctions, can be attributedto introduced speciesand introduced
Correspondingauthor:Vila` ,M. ().
speciesmightincreasetheregionalpool ofspecies,it is na¨ıvetoassumethatintroductionsarerisk free.
Third,especiallywhen advocatingthe translocationof iconictoppredatorssuchasthelynx,proponentsneedtobe acutelyawareofthepotentialforhuman–wildlifeconflicts. TranslocationsofonceextantpredatorsintheUKhave all met with oppositionfromdifferentsectorsofBritishsocie- ty,eventothe extentofpersecutionfollowingrelease[10]. Theseconflicts also occur forintroduced plantspecies regardlessofthe factthatthey have anarrowdistribution inthe nativerangeand are widespreadinthe UK.Public perceptionsregardingrhododendron(Rhododendronpon- ticum)inUKare unlikelytobedifferentifitwere native, becauseindigenousgrass,shruband treespeciesthatalso colonizeBritishheathlandsaremanagedjustasvigorously [11]topreventchangesinheathland ecosystemfunction. Thus, the suggestionthat the UK should become a Europeanwildlife park,with scantappreciation ofthe culturalas well as scientificvalueofnativebiodiversity, willprobablybecomemiredinthepoliticsofpublicopinion, and threatstounderminesuch initiatives.
Insum, weadvocateanintegrativeapproachtomitigate theimpactsofglobal changeonendangeredspeciesthat focuses exclusivelyonneitherclimatenoriconictaxa.We have to recognizethat assisted colonizationmightface insurmountable governanceissues. By notengagingin wishfulthinkingaboutARCs,scientists,stakeholdersand politicianswillrealizethatonlywithconcertedinvestment in in situ initiativesofa sufficientscale will endangered specieshave afuture.
Acknowledgements
MV acknowledgessupport of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´n projects: Consolider-Ingenio MONTES (CSD2008-00040) and RIXFUTUR(CGL2009-7515),and Juntade Andalucı´aProyectode ExcelenciaRNM-4031.
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