Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Primates: Provide cut branches (browse) One replicated, before-and-after study in the Netherlands and Germany found that when presented with stinging nettles captive gorillas used the same processing skills as wild gorillas to forage.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1332https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1332Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:33:09 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Primates: Provide live invertebrates One before-and-after study in the UK found that when provided with live insect prey inactivity reduced and foraging increased in captive loris to levels seen in wild loris.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1333https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1333Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:35:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Primates: Provide fresh produce One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that when fresh produce was offered instead of pellet feed more time was spent feeding and less time inactive in rhesus macaques.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1335https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1335Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:40:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Primates: Change feeding times One replicated, controlled study in the USA found that when chimpanzees were fed on unpredictable schedules inactivity decreased.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1338https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1338Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:46:57 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use nets to keep primates out of fruit trees One controlled, replicated, before-and-after study in Indonesia found that areas where nets were used to protect crop trees, crop-raiding by orangutans was reduced. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1442https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1442Tue, 17 Oct 2017 11:16:03 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Strengthen/support/re-install traditions/taboos that forbid the killing of primates One site comparison in Laos found that Laotian black crested gibbons occurred at higher densities in areas where they were protected by a local hunting taboo than at sites were there was no taboo. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1479https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1479Tue, 17 Oct 2017 18:52:43 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols One before-and-after study in Nigeria found that more gorillas and chimpanzees were observed after the implementation of law enforcement and a monitoring system. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1481https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1481Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:05:51 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Avoid/minimize logging of important food tree species for primates One before-and-after study in Belize found that a black howler monkey population increased over 13 years after trees important for food for the species were preserved, alongside other interventions. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1494https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1494Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:45:17 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Implement a ‘no-feeding of wild primates’ policy One controlled, before-and-after study in Japan found that several previously increasing Japanese macaque populations declined in size and productivity after limiting and then prohibiting food provisioning. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1502https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1502Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:59:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Put up signs to warn people about not feeding primates One review in Japan found that aggressive interactions between Japanese macaques and humans declined after prohibiting tourists from feeding of monkeys. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1507https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1507Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:47:59 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Guard habituated primate groups to ensure their safety/well-being A controlled, before-and-after study in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo found that a population of mountain gorillas increased over 41 years after being guarded against poachers, alongside other interventions. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1523https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1523Thu, 19 Oct 2017 09:34:22 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Regularly disinfect clothes, boots etc. One controlled, before-and-after study in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo found that numbers of mountain gorillas increased by 168% over 41 years while being visited by researchers and tourists whose clothes were disinfected, alongside other interventions. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1547https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1547Thu, 19 Oct 2017 17:33:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Vary quality or quantity (UV% or gradients) of enclosure lighting to simulate seasonal changes in the wild One replicated study in the UK found that there was no difference in clutch size between frogs given an ultraviolet (UV) boost compared with those who only received background levels. However, frogs given the UV boost had a significantly greater fungal load than frogs that were not UV-boosted. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1865https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1865Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:49:28 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Provide artificial aquifers for species which breed in upwelling springs One small study in the USA found that salamanders bred in an aquarium fitted with an artificial aquifer. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1871https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1871Fri, 19 Jan 2018 09:07:16 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Provide particular plants as breeding areas or egg laying sites One small, controlled study in the USA found that salamanders bred in an aquarium heavily planted with java moss and swamp-weed. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1875https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1875Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:31:52 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Manipulate sex ratio within the enclosure One replicated study in Australia found that frogs only bred once sex ratios were manipulated, along with playing recorded mating calls and moving frogs into an indoor enclosure which allowed temporary flooding, and had various types of organic substrate. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1879https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1879Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:00:23 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Separate sexes in non-breeding periods One replicated, before-and-after study in Australia found that clutch size of frogs increased when sexes were separated in the non-breeding periods, alongside providing female mate choice, playing recorded mating calls and allowing females to increase in weight before breeding. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1880https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1880Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:08:49 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Supplement diets with carotenoids (including for colouration) One study in the USA found that adding carotenoids to fruit flies fed to frogs reduced the number of clutches, but increased the number of tadpoles and successful metamorphs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1887https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1887Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:21:27 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Increase caloric intake of females in preparation for breeding One replicated, before-and-after study in Australia found that clutch size of frogs increased when females increased in weight before breeding, as well as having mate choice, recorded mating calls, and sexes being separated in the non-breeding periods. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1888https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1888Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:36:09 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Manipulate larval density within the enclosure A replicated study in the USA found that reducing larval density of spotted salamanders increased larval survival and body mass. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1894https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1894Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:05:40 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Supplement meat-based diets with prebiotic plant material to facilitate digestion One replicated, before-and-after study in India found that providing Jerusalem artichoke as a supplement increased two types of gut microbiota, faecal scores and faecal moisture content in leopards. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1905https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1905Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:37:54 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Allocate fast days One replicated, before-and-after study in the UK found that large felids fed once every three days paced more frequently on non-feeding days. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1906https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1906Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:38:37 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Supplement meat-based diet with amino acids One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that supplementing an animal-protein diet with taurine, increased plasma taurine levels in maned wolves. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1908https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1908Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:40:59 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Change location of food around enclosure One replicated, before-and-after study in Ireland found that altering the location of food decreased pacing behaviours in cheetahs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1918https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1918Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:51:27 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Provide live invertebrate prey, including in feeding devices One replicated study in the USA found that provision of live prey increased explorative behaviours in fennec foxes compared to other types of enrichment. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1926https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1926Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:19:57 +0000
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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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