Zoo Research and Conservation:

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Zoo Research and Conservation expanding the
scope into the laboratories of the landscape.
Lance Craighead. Director Craighead
Environmental Research Institute Adjunct
Assistant Professor of Ecology MSU Research
Associate Denver Zoological Society
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Reserve Design
Theory of Island Biogeography MacArthur and
Wilson 1963 equilibrium theory of insular
zoogeography
Minimum Viable Population Size Shaffer 1981
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Stochasticity Demographic (May 1973,
MacArthur and Wilson 1967) Environmental (May
1973, Roughgarden 1975, Leigh 1981) Genetic
(Allendorf and Leary 1986)
Extinction vortices Gilpin and Soule 1986
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Loss of habitat from Gilpin and Soule 1986
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Core Corridor model Reed Noss et. al.
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The Reed Noss/Nature Conservancy Approach
Focal Species Representation Analysis Special
Elements
Irreplaceability Vulnerability
4-6 Tiers of Conservation Value
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Conservation in Space and Time Maintaining the
individuals, populations, and species of
the Yellowstone to Yukon Region.
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Protected areas of Y2Y
It requires planning at different scales
Broad-scale to maintain populations of
wide-ranging species
The goal of conservation planning is to
maintain ecologically functional populations of
native plants and animals across large regions.
Plan needs to be based upon the species with the
greatest area and habitat requirements
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This requires core secure habitat large enough
to maintain populations of the animals that
require the most space usually large
carnivores. In most cases these species serve
as umbrella species for other animals that
require less space. In todays fragmented
habitats there are very few areas large enough
for long-term persistence of large carnivores.
In these cases the only alternative is to
provide a metapopulation structure of smaller
cores that are connected.
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Importance of landscape context and
connectivity Two types of connectivity
Ecological connectivity functions within
generations to maintain individuals and
populations,
Site and landscape scale
Genetic connectivity which functions across
generations to maintain reproduction and gene
flow. 
Landscape and ecoregional scale
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Carnivore Habitat Suitability
Rocky Mountain Carnivore Project
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Nature Conservancy/Nature Conservancy Canada
Carroll et al. (2003) CRMEP - 30-34 of total
habitat value for carnivore species only 33.3
of grizzly bear habitat.
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Grizzly
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Wolverine
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Lynx
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Cougar
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Wolf
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Caribou
Mountain Caribou
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In BC portion of study area CRM locked
solution71.4 of the very best focal species
habitat areas common to all 6 species. CRM
no-lock solution 45.8 Tier 1 and Tier 2
solution 8.9 of area common to all 6 species,
and 18.6 of core habitat of any of our focal
species. However CRM covered a larger area..
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Inland Temperate Rainforest
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U.S. Portion of Y2Y
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Wolverine Habitat Bob Inman, WCS
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Connectivity planning also needs to be based upon
the species with the greatest area and habitat
requirements
More focused on site scale and often on private
lands
To set measurable goals we need to determine
what areas are most important for movement ?
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Detailed movement data are difficult to obtain,
and are either extremely time-consuming or
expensive. Methods to obtain these data include
intensive observation, often enhanced by
radio-telemetry and satellite telemetry
utilizing either orbiting satellites or
stationary satellites employing Global
Positioning System (GPS).
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Because detailed data on movement and habitat
use are lacking, conservationists have relied
upon modelling habitat characteristics which are
preferred by focal species, and using maps of
preferred habitat to prioritize areas for the
conservation of movement (or linkage) habitat
(or corridors).
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The common currency across scales is the
species. (Targets?)
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Grizzly
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Primary Conservation Area Core
Full protection for grizzly bears and all
habitat on public lands
GYE Buffer Zone
Open to public hunting with limitations
Habitat open to development logging, mining, oil
and gas, resorts, motorized recreation, etc.
At the discretion of land managers Forests and
forest districts, BLM
ID, MT Connectivity to Selway-Bitterroot
State grizzly movement corridors
WY, ID, UT possible connectivity to Utah, Uinta
mtns.
A key role for TNC? Maintain movement habitat
between Protected cores
MT Connectivity to Selway-Bitterroot Northern
Continental Divide
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Conclusions
Species may be a good unit of analysis across all
scales
Use species with the greatest habitat needs as
umbrellas
Corridor width depends upon species wide enough
to buffer from disturbance at edges. Grizzly
5-10 km not too much
Corridor length is also species dependent maybe
within one or two days travel in poorest habitat
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