Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling
Flagship species are traditionally large, charismatic animals used to rally conservation efforts. Accepted flagship definitions suggest they need only fulfil a strategic role, unlike umbrella species that are used to shelter cohabitant taxa. The criteria used to select both flagship and umbrella spe...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2015-01-01
|
Series: | Animals |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/1/27 |
id |
doaj-317474b5573b416282d10efa2faa8553 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-317474b5573b416282d10efa2faa85532020-11-25T00:15:10ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152015-01-0151274010.3390/ani5010027ani5010027Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche ModellingK. Anne-Isola Nekaris0Andrew P. Arnell1Magdalena S. Svensson2Nocturnal Primate Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UKNocturnal Primate Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UKNocturnal Primate Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UKFlagship species are traditionally large, charismatic animals used to rally conservation efforts. Accepted flagship definitions suggest they need only fulfil a strategic role, unlike umbrella species that are used to shelter cohabitant taxa. The criteria used to select both flagship and umbrella species may not stand up in the face of dramatic forest loss, where remaining fragments may only contain species that do not suit either set of criteria. The Cinderella species concept covers aesthetically pleasing and overlooked species that fulfil the criteria of flagships or umbrellas. Such species are also more likely to occur in fragmented habitats. We tested Cinderella criteria on mammals in the fragmented forests of the Sri Lankan Wet Zone. We selected taxa that fulfilled both strategic and ecological roles. We created a shortlist of ten species, and from a survey of local perceptions highlighted two finalists. We tested these for umbrella characteristics against the original shortlist, utilizing Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling, and analysed distribution overlap using ArcGIS. The criteria highlighted Loris tardigradus tardigradus and Prionailurus viverrinus as finalists, with the former having highest flagship potential. We suggest Cinderella species can be effective conservation surrogates especially in habitats where traditional flagship species have been extirpated.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/1/27Cinderella speciesflagshipLoris tardigradus tardigradusPrionailurus viverrinusSri Lankaumbrella |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
K. Anne-Isola Nekaris Andrew P. Arnell Magdalena S. Svensson |
spellingShingle |
K. Anne-Isola Nekaris Andrew P. Arnell Magdalena S. Svensson Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling Animals Cinderella species flagship Loris tardigradus tardigradus Prionailurus viverrinus Sri Lanka umbrella |
author_facet |
K. Anne-Isola Nekaris Andrew P. Arnell Magdalena S. Svensson |
author_sort |
K. Anne-Isola Nekaris |
title |
Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling |
title_short |
Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling |
title_full |
Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling |
title_fullStr |
Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling |
title_full_unstemmed |
Selecting a Conservation Surrogate Species for Small Fragmented Habitats Using Ecological Niche Modelling |
title_sort |
selecting a conservation surrogate species for small fragmented habitats using ecological niche modelling |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Animals |
issn |
2076-2615 |
publishDate |
2015-01-01 |
description |
Flagship species are traditionally large, charismatic animals used to rally conservation efforts. Accepted flagship definitions suggest they need only fulfil a strategic role, unlike umbrella species that are used to shelter cohabitant taxa. The criteria used to select both flagship and umbrella species may not stand up in the face of dramatic forest loss, where remaining fragments may only contain species that do not suit either set of criteria. The Cinderella species concept covers aesthetically pleasing and overlooked species that fulfil the criteria of flagships or umbrellas. Such species are also more likely to occur in fragmented habitats. We tested Cinderella criteria on mammals in the fragmented forests of the Sri Lankan Wet Zone. We selected taxa that fulfilled both strategic and ecological roles. We created a shortlist of ten species, and from a survey of local perceptions highlighted two finalists. We tested these for umbrella characteristics against the original shortlist, utilizing Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling, and analysed distribution overlap using ArcGIS. The criteria highlighted Loris tardigradus tardigradus and Prionailurus viverrinus as finalists, with the former having highest flagship potential. We suggest Cinderella species can be effective conservation surrogates especially in habitats where traditional flagship species have been extirpated. |
topic |
Cinderella species flagship Loris tardigradus tardigradus Prionailurus viverrinus Sri Lanka umbrella |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/1/27 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT kanneisolanekaris selectingaconservationsurrogatespeciesforsmallfragmentedhabitatsusingecologicalnichemodelling AT andrewparnell selectingaconservationsurrogatespeciesforsmallfragmentedhabitatsusingecologicalnichemodelling AT magdalenassvensson selectingaconservationsurrogatespeciesforsmallfragmentedhabitatsusingecologicalnichemodelling |
_version_ |
1725388317959127040 |