Journal article
Assessing the umbrella value of a range-wide conservation network for jaguars (Panthera onca)
Ecological applications, Vol.26(4), pp.1112-1124
06/2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110029
PMID: 28581663
Abstract
Umbrella species are employed as conservation short-cuts for the design of reserves or reserve networks. However, empirical data on the effectiveness of umbrellas is equivocal, which has prevented more widespread application of this conservation strategy. We perform a novel, large-scale evaluation of umbrella species by assessing the potential umbrella value of a jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation network (consisting of viable populations and corridors) that extends from Mexico to Argentina. Using species richness, habitat quality, and fragmentation indices of ~1500 co-occurring mammal species, we show that jaguar populations and corridors overlap a substantial amount and percentage of high-quality habitat for co-occurring mammals and that the jaguar network performs better than random networks in protecting high-quality, interior habitat. Significantly, the effectiveness of the jaguar network as an umbrella would not have been noticeable had we focused on species richness as our sole metric of umbrella utility. Substantial inter-order variability existed, indicating the need for complementary conservation strategies for certain groups of mammals. We offer several reasons for the positive result we document, including the large spatial scale of our analysis and our focus on multiple metrics of umbrella effectiveness. Taken together, our results demonstrate that a regional, single-species conservation strategy can serve as an effective umbrella for the larger community and should help conserve viable populations and connectivity for a suite of co-occurring mammals. Current and future range-wide planning exercises for other large predators may therefore have important umbrella benefits.
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Details
- Title
- Assessing the umbrella value of a range-wide conservation network for jaguars (Panthera onca)
- Creators
- Daniel Thornton - School of Environment, Washington State University, PO Box 642812, Pullman, Washington, USAKathy Zeller - Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USACarlo Rondinini - Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza Università di Roma, Viale Università 32, Roma, 00185, ItalyLuigi Boitani - Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza Università di Roma, Viale Università 32, Roma, 00185, ItalyKevin Crooks - Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1878, Fort Collins, Colorado, USAChristopher Burdett - Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1878, Fort Collins, Colorado, USAAlan Rabinowitz - Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, New York, New York, USAHoward Quigley - Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, New York, New York, USA
- Publication Details
- Ecological applications, Vol.26(4), pp.1112-1124
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAS)
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 99900547639301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article