TY - JOUR

T1 - Determinants of bird conservation action implementation and associated population trends of threatened species

AU - Luther, David A.

AU - Brooks, Thomas M.

AU - Butchart, Stuart H. M.

AU - Hayward, Matthew

AU - Kester, Marieke E.

AU - Lamoreux, John

AU - Upgren, Amy

PY - 2016/12

Y1 - 2016/12

N2 - Conservation actions, such as habitat protection, attempt to halt the loss ofthreatened species and help their populations to recover. Various researchhas examined the efficiency and the effectiveness of actions individually.However, conservation actions generally occur simultaneously so the fullsuite of implemented conservation actions should be assessed. We usedthe conservation actions underway for all threatened and near-threatenedbirds of the world (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) to assess whichbiological (related to taxonomy and ecology) and anthropogenic (related togeo-economics) factors are associated with the implementation of differentclasses of conservation actions. We also assessed which conservationactions are associated with population increases in the species targeted.Extinction risk category was the strongest single predictor of the type ofconservation actions implemented, followed by landmass type (continent,oceanic island etc) and generation length. Species targeted by invasivealien species control/eradication programs, ex situ conservation,international legislation, reintroduction, or education and awareness-raisingactivities were more likely to have increasing populations. These resultsillustrate the importance of developing a predictive science of conservationactions and the relative benefits of each class of implemented conservationaction for threatened and near-threatened birds worldwide.

AB - Conservation actions, such as habitat protection, attempt to halt the loss ofthreatened species and help their populations to recover. Various researchhas examined the efficiency and the effectiveness of actions individually.However, conservation actions generally occur simultaneously so the fullsuite of implemented conservation actions should be assessed. We usedthe conservation actions underway for all threatened and near-threatenedbirds of the world (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) to assess whichbiological (related to taxonomy and ecology) and anthropogenic (related togeo-economics) factors are associated with the implementation of differentclasses of conservation actions. We also assessed which conservationactions are associated with population increases in the species targeted.Extinction risk category was the strongest single predictor of the type ofconservation actions implemented, followed by landmass type (continent,oceanic island etc) and generation length. Species targeted by invasivealien species control/eradication programs, ex situ conservation,international legislation, reintroduction, or education and awareness-raisingactivities were more likely to have increasing populations. These resultsillustrate the importance of developing a predictive science of conservationactions and the relative benefits of each class of implemented conservationaction for threatened and near-threatened birds worldwide.

U2 - 10.1111/cobi.12757

DO - 10.1111/cobi.12757

M3 - Article

VL - 30

SP - 1338

EP - 1346

JO - Conservation Biology

JF - Conservation Biology

SN - 0888-8892

IS - 6

ER -