Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply insecticide to protect seedlings from invertebrates One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the USA found that applying insecticide increased tree seedling emergence and survival.      Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1149https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1149Tue, 17 May 2016 15:18:10 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control birds One controlled study in Australia found that removing bell-miners from narrow-leaved peppermint forests did not improve the health of the trees in the forest.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1151https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1151Wed, 18 May 2016 14:46:22 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Water seedlings One replicated, randomized, controlled study in Spain found that watering tree seedlings increased survival during a dry summer but only increased the survival of some species during a wet summer, depending on the habitat. Watering increased or had no effect on seedling emergence depending on habitat and water availability.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1154https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1154Wed, 18 May 2016 15:16:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore wood pastures (e.g. introducing grazing) One replicated paired study in Sweden found that partial harvesting in abandoned wood pastures increased tree seedling density, survival and growth.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1164https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1164Wed, 18 May 2016 15:51:35 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Maintain/create buffer zones One site comparison study in Australia found that a forest edge protected by a planted buffer strip had higher canopy cover and lower stem density, but similar understory species richness to an unbuffered forest edge.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1168https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1168Thu, 19 May 2016 08:58:20 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use summer instead of winter harvesting One replicated study in the USA found no effect of logging season on plant species richness and diversity.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1216https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1216Fri, 20 May 2016 14:06:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use herbicides to thin trees One replicated, controlled study in Canada found no effect of using herbicide to thin pine trees on total plant species richness.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1225https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1225Mon, 23 May 2016 10:33:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Thin trees by girdling (cutting rings around tree trunks) One before-and-after trial in Canada found that thinning trees by girdling (cutting rings around tree trunks) increased understory plant species richness, diversity and cover.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1226https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1226Mon, 23 May 2016 10:34:52 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use herbicides to control invasive plant species One replicated, randomized, controlled study in the USA found no effect of invasive plant control using herbicide on the total native plant species richness.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1229https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1229Mon, 23 May 2016 10:52:27 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use electric fencing to exclude large native herbivores One controlled study in South Africa found that using electric fencing to exclude elephants and nyalas increased tree density.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1231https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1231Mon, 23 May 2016 11:15:59 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Protect nests and nesting sites from predation by creating new nesting sites One study evaluated the effects of protecting nests and nesting sites from predation by creating new nesting sites on reptile populations. This study was in Spain. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One replicated, controlled study in Spain found that predation rate of artificial Hermann’s tortoise nests in newly created nesting sites was similar to the predation rate in natural nesting sites. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3693https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3693Fri, 10 Dec 2021 17:39:17 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Protect nests and nesting sites from predation using conditioned taste aversion One study evaluated the effects of protecting nests and nesting sites from predation using conditioned taste aversion on reptile populations. This study was in the USA. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One replicated, randomized, controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that a similar number of loggerhead turtle nests were predated in areas of the beach where artificial nests containing unpalatable eggs were deployed (to condition taste aversion) compared to areas with no artificial nests with unpalatable eggs. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3695https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3695Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:18:32 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control ectoparasites in wild reptile populations One study evaluated the effects on reptile populations of controlling ectoparasites in wild reptile populations. This study was in New Zealand. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One controlled study in New Zealand found that McCann’s skinks treated for mites had more successful pregnancies and produced more viable offspring than untreated skinks. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3704https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3704Fri, 10 Dec 2021 19:06:39 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Develop/implement species recovery plans One study evaluated the effects of developing/implementing species recovery plans on reptile populations. This study was in Australia. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES) OTHER (1 STUDY) Conservation status (1 study): One controlled, before-and-after, paired study in Australia found that the chance of a species’ conservation status improving or being stable was similar for those with a recovery plan (including three reptile species) and those without a plan (including three reptile species). Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3707https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3707Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:13:35 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release reptiles into burrows One study evaluated the effects of releasing reptiles into burrows on their populations. This study was in the USA. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Survival (1 study): One replicated study in the USA found that both releasing translocated gopher tortoises into abandoned or artificial burrows or releasing without burrows had low success, but providing burrows inside release pens resulted in more successful translocations. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3725https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3725Mon, 13 Dec 2021 17:41:23 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate reptiles away from threats: Crocodilians One study evaluated the effects of translocating crocodilians away from threats on their populations. This study was global. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Abundance (1 study): One global review found that when using recruitment to the adult population as a measure of success, mitigation translocations (both away from threats and of problem reptiles) failed more often than those carried out for conservation or research purposes. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3733https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3733Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:49:40 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate reptiles away from threats: Tuatara One study evaluated the effects of translocating tuatara away from threats on their populations. This study was global. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Abundance (1 study): One global review found that when using recruitment to the adult population as a measure of success, mitigation translocations (both away from threats and of problem reptiles) failed more often than those carried out for conservation or research purposes. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3734https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3734Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:53:44 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create or restore savannas One study evaluated the effects of creating or restoring savannas on reptile populations. This study was in Australia. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Richness/diversity (1 study): One before-and-after study in Australia found that reptile species richness was higher following restoration of savanna-like habitat on a golf course. POPULATION RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3739https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3739Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:15:59 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Rehabilitate and release injured or accidentally caught individuals: Crocodilians One study evaluated the effects of rehabilitating and releasing injured or accidentally caught crocodilians on their populations. This study was in India. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One study in India found that found that breeding occurred in a rehabilitated and released population of mugger crocodiles four years after the first release. Survival (1 study): One study in India found that seven of eight rehabilitated and released mugger crocodiles survived for at least 1–4 years after release. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3743https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3743Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:48:01 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create or restore shrubland One study evaluated the effects of creating or restoring shrubland on reptile populations. This study was in Mexico. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Richness/diversity (1 study): One replicated, controlled study in Mexico found that areas of restored shrubland had similar reptile and amphibian species richness compared to areas that were not restored. POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Abundance (1 study): One replicated, controlled study in Mexico found that areas of restored shrubland had a higher abundance of lizards than areas that were not restored. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3751https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3751Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:28:55 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore beaches One study evaluated the effects of restoring beaches on reptile populations. This study was in the USA. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that removing beach debris from one section of beach did not increase nesting success in that section. BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY) Use (1 study): One controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that after the removal of beach debris from one of three beach sections, a higher percentage of both the total nests laid and failed nesting attempts occurred in that section. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3752https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3752Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:30:25 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Breed reptiles in captivity: Tuatara One study evaluated the effects of breeding tuatara in captivity. This study was in New Zealand. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One replicated study in New Zealand reported that hatching success of eggs laid in captivity by tuatara was around 50%. The study also found that the first clutches were laid 2–8 years after tuatara were brought into captivity. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3758https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3758Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:42:24 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use artificial insemination One study evaluated the effects of using artificial insemination on reptile populations. This study was in New Zealand. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One replicated study in New Zealand found that none of 10 artificially inseminated McCann’s skinks gave birth within a year of insemination, though around five were gravid after nine months. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3759https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3759Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:47:24 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Alter incubation temperatures to achieve optimal/desired sex ratio: Sea turtles One study evaluated the effects of altering incubation temperatures to achieve optimal/desired sex ratios on sea turtles. This study was in Canada. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Reproductive success (1 study): One replicated study in Canada reported that hatching success of two clutches of artificially incubated green turtle eggs was 8% and 62%. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES) OTHER (1 STUDY): Offspring sex ratio (1 study): One replicated study in Canada found that incubating green turtle eggs at higher temperatures resulted in more females hatchlings. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3761https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3761Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:09:09 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Fence cliff edges to prevent individuals from falling One study evaluated the effects on reptile populations of fencing cliff edges to prevent individuals from falling. This study was in Australia. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Survival (1 study): One before-and-after study in Australia found that after installing a fence along a small cliff edge, fewer green turtle carcasses were found at the base of the cliff compared to before installation. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3790https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F3790Wed, 15 Dec 2021 16:37:17 +0000
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

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