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Waterfowl conservation planning in the boreal forest: Use of a pre-existing, large-scale, time-series dataset

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posted on 2015-11-26, 09:38 authored by Nicole BarkerNicole Barker, Marcel Darveau, Steve Cumming

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Barker, N. K. S., M. Darveau, and S. G. Cumming. 2010. Waterfowl conservation planning in the boreal forest: Use of a pre-existing, large-scale, time-series dataset. Poster, International Congress for Conservation Biology. Edmonton, AB, Canada. Retreived from figshare: 

 

Poster Abstract: Optimal conservation planning should include modelled habitat-species interactions in addition to basic species’ distribution information. The USFWS’ annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) provides estimates of waterfowl populations across Canada and the US extending back to the mid-1950s. We assessed this survey’s potential to inform conservation planning in the Boreal by: 1) critically reviewing past research using this dataset; 2) highlighting key questions the survey can address; and 3) identifying potential obstacles and limitations specific to the Boreal. While the survey has historically been used for developing harvest quotas, the focus has shifted to population ecology and species-habitat interactions in recent years, due to advances in spatial analysis and remote sensing. Habitat modelling is a crucial step for identifying priority areas for conservation, and predictive models can assess changes in species populations in response to human activities and climate change. Boreal-specific obstacles include uneven spatial distribution of survey transects, potential gaps in environmental data, and substantially lower population estimates than in the Prairies (which may require Boreal-specific conservation plans). We recommend the collection of ancillary data to improve accuracy of estimates, and we conclude that with detailed and careful analysis, the WBPHS demonstrates great potential for conservation planning in this changing ecosystem.

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