Reintroductions: |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 29 Oct 2003 In the light of a short note on adder reintroduction to Bedfordshire via N.Forest in current issue of 'Herp-Line',(Froglife). I would like to hear views on reintroductions particularly long distance translocations such as this. I will hold my own input until I have a response. Tony |
GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 29 Oct 2003 Hi Tony, This is a subject I give a lot of thought to. As I've mentioned before I am very concerned about genetic isolation both now and in the future. My view is that any movement should be localised, i.e. if 2 adjacent key adder sites were identified and historically were connected, it might be assumed genetic flow occurred. This might be re-established by translocation and achieve a form of genetic conservation, if some such modern barrier as a major road or housing development has occurred. The key being proof that the populations have become genetically impoverished, and long-term study of the results. I'm not so sure of the merit of reintroducing adders to a far-flung and isolated site. It seems a little like zoo keeping. I would rather see habitat enhancement/protection around existing key adder sites (and a lot more effort to identify where these actually are) to allow them to move out and form new populations naturally. I also have doubts about the viability of reintroductions, evidence that breeding populations have formed seems to be very lacking indeed. The success of Madsen's translocations in Sweden being very much due to the existence of adult snakes at the site, though obviously the aim was genetic conservation as opposed to a reintroduction. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
Phil Davidson Member Joined: 19 Aug 2003 No. of posts: 5 View other posts by Phil Davidson |
Posted: 29 Oct 2003 Well, as far as I understand it, this kind of operation has been quite successful as part of the sand lizard species recovery programme, so there may well be some merits to reintroductions, providing the factors that meant animals weren't there in the first place have been addressed. As for the long-distance aspect of the adder translocation. - am I right in thinking there is an estrablished population of introduced sand lizards on one of the Scottish islands? Whilst I don't know quite what was supposed to be achieved by putting them there, it does demonstrate that long distance translocations can work. I think you should generally go for the nearest possible population though, preferably from captive stock, but this will not always be possible. There is the genetic aspect as well, we know little about the genetic variation of British reptiles across the country, and the importance of this in conservation terms has yet to be assessed. I believe there is research underway at Cardiff University that is looking into the genetic variation of adders and grass snakes across Britain so answers may be forthcoming. Going through the literature you do find constant references to the fact that reptiles are generally poor at colonising new sites, that isolated populations don't recover from local extinction events, etc. I don't know how much research has been carried out on reintroduction success/failure and colonisation of sites, but I do know of a site created on the edge of a widened road, in the middle of arable farmland, that had a new adder population within a couple of years. Hopefully they're better at getting around than we think! Phil |
Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 29 Oct 2003 Thanks for the response gemma & Phil. I just ask the question - how manupulative should conservation strategies be? I have always feared that the sand lizards on Coll would set a precedent; in some ways it is more of an embarassment. Also, as Phil pointed out, Rhys Jones is doing very relevant research on the subject, and he is speaking at the European Snake Meeting, Nov 29th. With regard to the adder reintroduction in Bedfordshire, one thing is that it does seem to be well monitored and if those participating in this project read this forum then we would welcome their input. I can only quote a case well known to me. This is a site East Burnam Common/Burnham Beeches; my very first adder site when the heather was almost taller than me. Until quite recently it was thought that the adder was extinct here, but with some well planned management and the developement of exlusion zones the species has made a comeback. I found seven adults and threee immature earlier this year. There have been no reintroductions here just habitat enhancement. However, a few years ago this site could have been thought a prime candidate for reintroduction. You would also think that with the HGBI's there would be more liaison/coordination between the groups and interested parties - its a bit maverick I feel. We will end up with a hotch potch of populations with origins from ??. I know it sounds great to have a species apparently thriving again, but I feel that it is more complicated than that. Tony |
calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351 View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 30 Oct 2003 Tony: "You would also think that with the HGBI's there would be more liaison/coordination between the groups and interested parties - its a bit maverick I feel." Yes I agree that this is needed. As the new SE Regional Rep for HGBI it is certainly something that I am trying to push for. However, the number of consultants who contact local groups and seek their views is very few I'm afraid. Most see local group involvement as an obstacle to development and only make outside consultations when they are told to do so by planning officers, EN etc. When I have been offered to opportunity to review survey reports/mitigation proposals I am usually dismayed by the poor standard - particularly for reptiles. My view is that many consultants charge professional fees for work, the quality of which falls short of what would be expected of an undergraduate project... What we need to do is update the HGBI Best Practice Guidelines and push for them to be adopted by consultants. Lee Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
Jim Foster Member Joined: 24 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 19 View other posts by Jim Foster |
Posted: 30 Oct 2003 The concerns raised above about genetic and population viability issues for reintroductions are well made. I know the background on the adder reintroduction referred to, and it was unfortunately not planned or implemented to the standards English Nature would normally expect. However, it was - as far as I understand - an opportunistic attempt at reintroducing the species to an area which has seen major declines, to a site where the perceived reasons for extinction had been remedied, and it's been started now so our view is to try to get the best out of it. The local herpetologists working on monitoring and management advice are doing a great job. The main reason for this post is to alert those of you interested in the principles to a recent publication, the JNCC species translocation policy. This gives some excellent background on what to think about when planning reintroductions. You can see it at: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/species/translocations/species.htm All reintroductions that the statutory agencies are involved in will now have to work to this guidance. Jim
(Just made the link active Jim) Jim Foster. Reptile & amphibian specialist, Natural England. |
calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351 View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 30 Oct 2003 Jim, thanks for the link. I had just gone away to look up the document but you beat me to it! "All reintroductions that the statutory agencies are involved in will now have to work to this guidance." It is unfortunate that development/mitigation led introductions/reintroductions/translocations undertaken by consultants do not (yet!) have to follow the guidelines. Are there any plans to make these guidelines more far reaching? Lee Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
Jim Foster Member Joined: 24 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 19 View other posts by Jim Foster |
Posted: 03 Nov 2003 The JNCC policy relates more to translocations for proactive conservation purposes (e.g. reintroducing sand lizards to counties where they have gone extinct in recent history). It specifically mentions that translocations undertaken as mitigation for development require further guidelines, but adds that some of the document does provide useful guidance (the principles in Annex 1). It also states that in situ solutions are preferable to translocation. English Nature will be using the document when drawing up new or revised guidance on reptile and great crested newt mitigation. Jim Jim Foster. Reptile & amphibian specialist, Natural England. |
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