A Metapopulation Approach to Recovery of the Five-Lined Skink Using Rehabilitated Aggregate Extraction Sites

Date

2009-03-03T16:06:50Z

Authors

Cameron, Melissa

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Guelph

Abstract

Protecting existing habitat for species-at-risk is an important conservation measure; however, many populations occupy highly fragmented habitat patches to the extent that population persistence is unlikely without the creation of new habitat patches. This research examines the potential for clusters of rehabilitated aggregate extraction sites to be used as reintroduction sites for species-at-risk. Using a method combining GIS and metapopulation modeling, I evaluated the success of establishing metapopulations of the Five-Lined Skink, Eumeces fasciatus, in 137 clusters of aggregate extraction sites using three hypothetical recovery scenarios. Patch abundance and patch clustering had a significant negative effect on metapopulation extinction risk. Increasing the quality of a single patch relative to other patches of suitable quality had little effect on extinction risk and patch occupancy. Introducing all individuals into a single patch decreased extinction risk and patch occupancy. Rehabilitated aggregate sites could play a role in the protection of species-at-risk in Ontario.

Description

Keywords

landscape architecture, reintroduction, metapopulation, rehabilitation, species at risk, Aggregate extraction

Citation