Collected 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 mammalian predators on islands for seabirds We found 16 before-and-after studies, one paired sites study and one literature review from around the world, all describing positive seabird responses to the removal or control of mammalian predators (mainly rats Rattus spp. and feral cats Felis catus) from islands. Of these 18 studies, seven found either large population increases or recolonisations following predator eradication or control. Two of these found only partial population increases or recolonisations: a study from Alaska. Twelve studies found increases in reproductive success and survival or decreases in predation and mortality following predator control. In one case there was also a small population increase. Rats and mice Mus musculus were controlled in twelve studies, mostly examining burrow-nesting seabirds; cats in eight, mostly on ground or cliff-nesting seabirds; and other species in two.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F375https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F375Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:57:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use aversive conditioning to reduce nest predation by avian predators Five studies from the USA and Europe found reductions in consumption of eggs treated with various chemicals. A further ex situ study from the USA found that American kestrels Falco sparverius consumed fewer chicks when they were treated, but not to the point of losing body condition. Three studies from the USA found some evidence that treating eggs with some chemicals may have reduced predation of eggs after treatment stopped, or  of untreated eggs, although two of these were only short term experiments and the third found that the effect was lost after a year. Four studies from the Europe and the USA found no evidence for conditioning, or a reduction in predation of wild (untreated) eggs.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F418https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F418Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:50:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce inter-specific competition for nest sites of ground nesting seabirds by removing competitor species Four studies from Canada and the UK found increased tern Sterna spp. populations following the control or exclusion of gulls Larus spp. In two studies many interventions were used, making it impossible to tell which was responsible. One study from the UK and one from Canada found that controlling large gulls had no impact on smaller species. Two studies from the USA and UK found that exclusion devices successfully reduced the numbers of gulls at sites, although one found that they were only effective at small colonies and the other found that methods varied in their effectiveness and practicality.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F422https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F422Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:21:39 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control or remove habitat-altering mammals Four studies from the Azores and Australia found that seabird populations increased following the eradication of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus or other species, although in three studies there were several other interventions used as well. Two studies from Australia and the Madeira archipelago, Portugal, found that seabird populations’ productivities increased following rabbit and house mouse Mus musculus eradications, with several other interventions used in the Australian study.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F431https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F431Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:21:43 +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: Provide artificial nesting sites for grebesA single study from the UK found that grebes used nesting rafts in some areas of the UK but not others, and that the characteristics of used rafts differed geographically.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F479https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F479Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:36:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for ground and tree-nesting seabirds Three studies from the UK and the Azores found increases in gull and tern populations following the provision of rafts/islands or providing nest boxes alongside other interventions. A controlled, replicated study from the USA found that terns had higher nesting success on nesting rafts in one of two years monitored and a before-and-after study from Japan found that nesting success increased after the provision of nesting substrate. Five studies from Canada and Europe found that terns used re-profiled or artificial islands or nesting rafts, but pelicans did not. A small study from Hawaii found that red-footed boobies Sula sula preferentially nested in an artificial ‘tree-style’ nesting structure, compared to other designs.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F480https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F480Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:40:27 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for burrow-nesting seabirds Four studies from across the world found evidence for population increases or new populations being established in petrel species following the provision of nest boxes. In two cases nest boxes were combined with the translocation of chicks or other interventions. Six studies from across the world found high occupancy rates for artificial burrows by seabirds, with three finding that occupancy increased over time, taking years to build up. Three studies from across the world found very low occupancy rates for artificial burrows used by petrel species. Eight studies from across the world found that the productivity of birds using artificial burrows was high, in many cases as high or higher than in natural burrows. One replicated study from the USA and a small study from the Galapagos found low productivity of petrels using artificial burrows.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F481https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F481Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:21:23 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for wildfowl using artificial/floating islands Two studies from North America found that a variety of wildfowl used artificial islands and floating rafts, and had high (70–80%) nesting success. A replicated study from across the UK found that wildfowl preferentially nested on well vegetated islands, compared to bare ones.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F483https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F483Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:49:16 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for railsA replicated study from across the UK found that common moorhens Gallinula chloropus and common coot Fulica atra readily used artificial islands for nesting.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F485https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F485Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:10:02 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide artificial nesting sites for waders Two replicated studies from the UK and the USA found that waders used artificial islands and nesting sites. The UK study found that sparsely vegetated islands at coastal sites were used more than well vegetated and inland sites.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F486https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F486Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:00:21 +0100
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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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