Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Mow or cut semi-natural grasslands/pastures Of four studies captured, one, a before-and-after study from the UK, found that local wader populations increased following the annual cutting semi-natural grasslands. A replicated, controlled study from the UK found that ducks grazed at higher densities on cut areas, a second replicated study from the UK found that goose grazing densities were unaffected by cutting frequency. A replicated study from the USA found that Henslow's sparrows were more likely to be recaptured on unmown, compared with mown grasslands. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F339https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F339Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:49:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Treat wetlands with herbicideThree of four studies, one replicated and controlled, found that numbers of terns, American coot and waders were found at higher densities on wetland areas sprayed with herbicide, compared to unsprayed areas. However, one study found that wader numbers were not as high as on ploughed areas. One replicated and controlled study found that songbird densities were lower on sprayed than unsprayed areas. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F347https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F347Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:26:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Fertilize artificial grasslands We captured four studies examining the impacts of fertilizing grasslands, all from the UK and investigating grazing by geese Anser and Branta spp. Two studies found that more geese grazed on areas that were fertilised compared with control areas. Two studies found that cut and fertilised areas were used more than control areas. One study found that fertilised areas were used less than re-seeded grasslands. One study found that fertilisation affected grazing at applications of 50 kg N/ha, but not 18 kg N/ha. One study found that grazing rates only increased with applications of up to 80 kg.N/ha. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F353https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F353Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:06:25 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Plough habitats One of four studies (of two experiments), from the USA, found that bird densities were higher on ploughed wetland areas, compared to unploughed areas. Three studies of a site comparison study from the UK found that few whimbrels nested on ploughed and re-seeded areas of heathland, but these areas were used for foraging in early spring. There were no differences in chick survival between birds that used ploughed and re-seeded heathland and those that did not. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F358https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F358Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:05:56 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore or create shrubland Only one of the four studies captured investigated the effects of shrubland restoration in isolation. This small before-and-after study from the UK found that one or two pairs of northern lapwing bred on an area of restored moorland, whereas none had previously bred in the area. A study from the USA and one from the Azores found that populations of target species (gamebirds and seabirds) increased following shrubland restoration, amongst other interventions. A replicated study from the UK which did not distinguish between several interventions performed found a negative relationship between the combined intervention and the ratio of young-to-old grey partridges. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F364https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F364Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:03:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control predators not on islands for waders Three out of four controlled studies in the UK and the USA found some evidence for higher reproductive success or lower predation rates for waders in areas or years with predator removal, although one UK study found that only three of six species investigated had increased reproductive success in years with predator removal. Predators removed were carrion crows Corvus corone, gulls Larus spp., red foxes Vulpes vulpes and cats Felis catus. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F390https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F390Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:40:34 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Physically protect nests with individual exclosures/barriers or provide shelters for chicks of ground nesting seabirds A before-and-after study from Japan found an increase in fledging rates of little terns Sterna albifrons following the provision of chick shelters and other interventions. Two studies from the USA and Canada found reduced predation of tern chicks following the provision of chick shelters. A small study from the USA found low levels of use of chick shelters, except when predators were present. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F397https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F397Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:01:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Can nest protection increase nest abandonment? A replicated before-and-after study from the USA found that nest abandonment increased after nest exclosures were installed. Two replicated studies in Sweden and the USA found small levels of abandonment, or non-significant increases in abandonment following nest exclosure installation. A meta-analysis from the USA found that some designs of nest exclosures were more likely to lead to abandonment than others. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F401https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F401Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:41:47 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce inter-specific competition for nest sites of woodpeckers by removing competitor species All four studies we captured describe the management of red-cockaded woodpeckers Picoides borealis in open pine forests in the USA. One small study found an increase in woodpecker population following the removal of southern flying squirrels Glaucomys volans, whilst a second found a population increase following squirrel removal, along with other interventions and a third found that reintroductions were successful when squirrels were controlled. A randomised, replicated and controlled before-and-after study found fewer holes were occupied by squirrels following control efforts, but that occupancy by red-cockaded woodpeckers was no higher. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F423https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F423Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:09:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce inter-specific competition for food by removing or controlling competitor species Two controlled before-and-after studies from the UK found that six species of wildfowl showed significant increases following the removal of fish from lakes. Three other species did not show increases. A study from France found that grey partridges Perdix perdix increased at a site with several interventions, including the control of competitor species. A before-and-after study from Spain found no change in the rate of kleptoparasitic attacks on herons after the culling of gulls at a colony. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F428https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F428Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:54:16 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce adverse habitat alterations by excluding problematic terrestrial species Three studies from the USA and the UK found higher numbers of certain songbird species and a higher species richness in these groups when deer were excluded from forests. Intermediate canopy-nesting species in the USA and common nightingales Luscinia macrorhynchos in the UK were the species to benefit. A study from Hawaii found mixed effects of grazer exclusion, with some species showing population increases, some declines and other different long- and short-term trends. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F429https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F429Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:34:54 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove problematic vegetation A before-and-after study from Japan found higher numbers of long-billed plovers Charadrius placidus after the removal of invasive black locust Robinia pseudoacacia. A study from Australia found lower mortality of Gould’s petrels Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera following the removal of most of an island’s (native) bird-lime tree Pisonia umbellifera population, whilst a study from New Zealand found that Chatham Island oystercatchers Haematopus chathamensis could nest in preferable areas following invasive marram grass Ammophila arenaria control. A site comparison from the USA found lower densities of several birds in areas with (native) velvet mesquite Prosopis juliflora control. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F432https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F432Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:43:46 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Rehabilitation of injured and treated birds Two replicated studies from the USA and UK found that 40% and 25% of raptors were released following rehabilitation. The USA study also found that 32% of owls were released. Three replicated studies from the USA all found relatively high survival of released raptors, with only 2.4% of birds being recovered (i.e. found dead, 1) and 66–68% survival over two weeks and six weeks. One study found that mortality rates were higher for owls than raptors. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F476https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F476Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:15:35 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for divers/loons A replicated before-and-after study from the UK found that there was a very large increase in loon productivity on lakes provided with nesting rafts, with a corresponding increase in productivity across the whole country. Two studies from the USA found higher nesting success on lakes with floating nesting rafts, compared to sites without rafts, but no new territories were established on lakes without loons but with rafts. A replicated study from the UK found that loons used nesting rafts and artificial islands in some areas of the UK, but not others. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F478https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F478Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:13:43 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Guard nests to increase nest success A before-and-after study from Costa Rica found an increase in scarlet macaw Ara macau population following the monitoring of nests, along with several other interventions. Two studies from Puerto Rico and New Zealand found that parrot nest success was higher or mortality reduced or nest success higher with intensive monitoring of nests, ompared to periods without monitoring. A study from New Zealand also found high overall nest success when nests were monitored. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F506https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F506Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:12:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for rails and coots to increase reproductive success A small randomised and controlled trial in the USA found that fed American coots Fulica americana laid heavier eggs, but not larger clutches than controls. However, a randomised, replicated and controlled study in Canada found that clutch size, but not egg size was larger in fed American coot territories. There was also less variation in clutch size between fed territories. The Canadian study also found that coots laid earlier when fed, whilst a replicated cross-over trial from the UK found three was a shorter interval between common moorhens Gallinula chloropus clutches in fed territories, but that fed birds were no more likely to produce second broods. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F528https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F528Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:37:36 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food for vultures to increase reproductive success Two before-and-after studies from the USA and Greece found that there were population increases in local populations of two vultures (one New World, one Old World) following the provision of food in the area. A study from Israel found that a small, regularly supplied feeding station could provide sufficient food for breeding Egyptian vultures Neophron percnopterus. A before-and-after study from Italy found that a small population of Egyptian vultures Neophron percnopterus declined following the provision of food at a feeding station, and only a single vulture was seen at the feeding station. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F531https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F531Sun, 09 Sep 2012 18:08:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide supplementary food through the establishment of food populations One pre-1950 study in the USA found that waterfowl fed on specially-planted rye grass. Three studies from North America and Sweden found that attempts to support populations by establishing prey did not succeed. Whooping cranes Grus americana in the USA preferentially fed on scattered grains, over planted crops; attempts in Sweden to boost macroinvertebrate numbers were not successful and great horned owls Bubo virginianus in Canada did not respond to induced increases in prey populations. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F555https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F555Sat, 22 Sep 2012 20:40:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use perches to increase foraging success Two studies from the USA found that raptors and other birds used perches provided, whilst a replicated and controlled study in Sweden found that raptors used clearcuts with perches significantly more than those without. However, a controlled study from the USA found that overall bird abundances were not higher in areas provided with perches and a small controlled cross-over trial on an island in the USA found that San Clemente loggerhead shrikes Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi did not alter their hunting patterns or increase their success rates following the installation of perches in their territories. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F556https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F556Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:05:36 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use captive breeding to increase or maintain populations of bustards We captured four studies of a houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata, macqueenii captive breeding programme in Saudi Arabia. The project successfully raised chicks in captivity, with 285 chicks hatched in the 7th year of the project after 232 birds were used to start the captive population. Captive birds bred earlier and appeared to lay more eggs than wild birds. Forty-six percent of captive eggs hatched and 43% of chicks survived to ten years old, although no comparison was made with wild birds. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F592https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F592Sat, 06 Oct 2012 23:13:15 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use captive breeding to increase or maintain populations of storks and ibises We captured a small study and a review describing the captive breeding of storks (Ciconiidae) and a study and a review describing the breeding of northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita. Both studies on storks were from the USA. The small study found that a pair bred; the review found that only seven of 19 species had been successfully bred in captivity. A review of bald ibis conservation found that 1,150 birds had been produced in captivity from 150 founders over 20 years. However, some projects had failed, and a study from Turkey found that captive birds had lower productivity than wild birds. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F595https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F595Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:54:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear waders in captivity Three out of four replicated and controlled studies from the USA and New Zealand found that artificially incubated and/or hand-reared waders had higher hatching and fledging success than controls. One study from New Zealand found that hatching success of black stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae was lower for artificially-incubated eggs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F611https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F611Sat, 13 Oct 2012 18:03:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear parrots in captivity Two studies from South America describe the successful hand-rearing of parrot chicks, with ten of 12 yellow-shouldered amazons Amazona barbadensis surviving for a year after release and blue-fronted amazons Amazona aestiva fledging at higher weights than wild birds. A review of the kakapo Strigops habroptilus management programme found that chicks could be successfully raised and released, but that eggs incubated from a young age had low success. A study from the USA found that all hand-reared thick-billed parrots Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha died within a month of release: significantly lower survival than for wild-caught birds also translocated to the release site. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F615https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F615Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:29:14 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear songbirds in captivity Four studies from the USA found high rates of success for artificial incubation and hand-rearing of songbirds. The one study to compare techniques found that crow chicks fed more food had higher growth rates, but that these rates never matched those of wild birds. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F616https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F616Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:34:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred individuals into the wild to restore or augment wild populations of bustards Three reviews of a release programme for houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii in Saudi Arabia and a replicated trial as part of the same programme found low initial survival of released birds, but the establishment of a breeding population and an overall success rate of 41%. The programme tested many different release techniques, discussed elsewhere, with releases being most successful if sub-adults were released, able to fly, into a large exclosure. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F622https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F622Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:23:17 +0100