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Wiley InterScience

Conservation Biology

Conservation Biology

Volume 21 Issue 2, Pages 303 - 312

Published Online: 12 Jan 2007

©2010, Society for Conservation Biology



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Review
Developing the Science of Reintroduction Biology
PHILIP J. SEDDON*†, DOUG P. ARMSTRONG‡**, AND RICHARD F. MALONEY§
  *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand, email philip.seddon@stonebow.otago.ac.nz   Wildlife Ecology Group, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand   §Research, Development and Improvement Division, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 13049, Christchurch, New Zealand
Correspondence to   Additional afilliation: Bird Section, World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, Reintroduction Specialist Group
Correspondence to   **Additional afilliation: Oceania Section, World Conservation, Species Survival Commission, Reintroduction Specialist Group
Copyright 2007 Society for Conservation Biology
KEYWORDS
management • population restoration • reliable knowledge • reintroduction biology • species recovery • translocation
KEYWORDS
biología de la reintroducción • conocimiento confiable • gestión • recuperación de especies • restauración de la población • translocación

ABSTRACT

Abstract:  With recent increases in the numbers of species reintroduction projects and reintroduction-related publications, there is now a recognizable field of reintroduction biology. Nevertheless, research thus far has been fragmented and ad hoc, rather than an organized attempt to gain reliable knowledge to improve reintroduction success. We reviewed 454 recent (1990–2005) peer-reviewed papers dealing with wildlife reintroductions from 101 journals. Most research has been retrospective, either opportunistic evaluations of techniques or general project summaries, and most inference is gained from post hoc interpretation of monitoring results on a species-by-species basis. Documentation of reintroduction outcomes has improved, however, and the derivation of more general principles via meta-analyses is expected to increase. The fragmentation of the reintroduction literature remains an obstacle. There is scope to improve reintroduction biology by greater application of the hypothetico-deductive method, particularly through the use of modeling approaches and well-designed experiments. Examples of fruitful approaches in reintroduction research include experimental studies to improve outcomes from the release of captive-bred animals, use of simulation modeling to identify factors affecting the viability of reintroduced populations, and the application of spatially explicit models to plan for and evaluate reintroductions. We recommend that researchers contemplating future reintroductions carefully determine a priori the specific goals, overall ecological purpose, and inherent technical and biological limitations of a given reintroduction and that evaluation processes incorporate both experimental and modeling approaches. We suggest that the best progress will be made when multidisciplinary teams of resource managers and scientists work in close collaboration and when results from comparative analyses, experiments, and modeling are combined within and among studies.

ABSTRACT

Desarrollando la Ciencia de Biología de la Reintroducción

Resumen:  Con el reciente incremento en el número de proyectos de reintroducción de especies y de publicaciones relacionadas con reintroducciones la biología de la reintroducción es un campo reconocible. Sin embargo, la investigación hasta ahora ha sido fragmentada y ad hoc, en vez de un intento organizado para obtener conocimiento confiable para mejorar el éxito de las reintroducciones. Revisamos 454 artículos recientes (1990–2005), revisados por pares, sobre reintroducciones de vida publicados en 101 revistas. La mayor parte de la investigación ha sido retrospectiva, ya sea evaluaciones oportunistas de técnicas o resúmenes de proyectos generales, y la mayoría de las inferencias se obtienen de la interpretación post hoc de resultados de monitoreo una base de especie por especie. Sin embargo, la documentación de los resultados de reintroducciones ha mejorado, y se espera que aumente la derivación de principios más generales por medio de meta análisis. La fragmentación de la literatura sobre reintroducción sigue siendo un obstáculo. Se tiene el propósito de mejorar la biología de la reintroducción con una mejor aplicación del método hipotético-deductivo, particularmente por medio del uso de métodos de modelado y experimentos bien diseñados. Entre los ejemplos de métodos fructíferos en la investigación sobre reintroducción se incluyen estudios experimentales para mejorar los resultados de la liberación de animales criados en cautiverio, el uso de modelos de simulación para identificar factores que afectan la viabilidad de poblaciones reintroducidas y la aplicación de modelos espacialmente explícitos para planificar y evaluar reintroducciones. Recomendamos a los investigadores que contemplen llevar a cabo reintroducciones en el futuro que a priori determinen cuidadosamente las metas específicas, el objetivo ecológico general y las limitaciones técnicas y biológicas inherentes de una reintroducción y que los procesos de evaluación incorporen tanto métodos experimentales como de modelado. Sugerimos que el progreso será mejor cuando equipos multidisciplinarios de gestores de recursos y cinéticos trabajen en colaboración cercana y cuando los resultados de análisis comparativos, experimentos y modelado sean combinados dentro y entre los estudios.


Paper submitted April 6, 2006; revised manuscript accepted August 2, 2006.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00627.x About DOI

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