13. Subtidal benthic invertebrateconservation

Expert assessors Silviu Petrovan, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Anaelle Lemasson, JNCC, United Kingdom Ann Thornton, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Lucy Shuff, Gardline Limited, United Kingdom Christopher Barrett, CEFAS, United Kingdom Scope of assessment: for native wild subtidal species across the world. Assessed: 2020. Effectiveness measure is the median % score for effectiveness. Cer..

What is the evidence for the effectiveness of husbandry and management interventions for the conservation and welfare of captive animals? A systematic map protocol

Biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate, much greater than natural background extinction. This crisis has highlighted the potential role of zoos, aquariums and other captive facilities to mitigate the loss of biodiversity, although their ability to do so is sometimes questioned. Amongst other factors, zoos and aquariums have experienced challenges in sustaining viable populations under managed care (i.e. in captivity), identifying appropriate circumstances and approaches for reintroduction, and addressing societal concerns pertaining to the welfare of captive animals. Robust science-based methodologies must be developed and the effects of zoo- and aquarium-based practices assessed, in order to improve captive animal health and welfare, better manage captive populations, and optimise the success of population management and conservation breeding programmes. There is therefore an increasing need for evidence-based husbandry and management of captive animals for conservation. We propose a systematic map of research on husbandry interventions and practices associated with improving the conservation and welfare of captive animals, better managing their breeding, and other related outcomes. This map, which will be freely available to all, will improve our knowledge of the available evidence for both the commonly used and lesser known interventions and practices aiming to improve the welfare and conservation of captive animals, by answering several questions: Which studies have measured the effects of any possible management and/or husbandry interventions/practices on the conservation and welfare of captive animals? Which husbandry interventions/practices and outcomes have been studied, and which ones are lacking published evidence? For the purpose of this map, we will focus on captive animals kept in zoos and aquariums but will consider evidence from other captive environments where appropriate. Here, we provide the protocol outlining the methods designed to identify and collate into a systematic map the available global evidence for the effectiveness of husbandry interventions and practices for the welfare and conservation of captive animals.The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums funded this work

What Works in Conservation 2020

Is reduced tillage in arable fields beneficial for farmland biodiversity? Is prescribed burning in grasslands beneficial for bird conservation? Does livestock exclusion from degraded peatlands benefit peatland conservation? Is the provision of artificial shelters effective for subtidal benthic invertebrate conservation? Do wind turbine modifications reduce bat fatalities? Does adding topsoil increase the abundance of heathland plants? Are interventions to reduce road impacts on amphibians effective? Do herbicides control invasive parrot's feather? What Works in Conservation has been created to provide practitioners with answers to these and many other questions about practical conservation.This book provides an assessment of the effectiveness of 1614 conservation interventions based on summarized scientific evidence. The 2020 edition contains new material on bat conservation and our first marine chapter, on Subtidal benthic invertebrate conservation. Other chapters cover practical global conservation of primates, peatlands, shrublands and heathlands, management of captive animals as well as an extended chapter on control of freshwater invasive species, the global conservation of amphibians, bats, birds and forests, conservation of European farmland biodiversity and some aspects of enhancing natural pest control, enhancing soil fertility and control of freshwater invasive species. It contains key results from the summarized evidence for each conservation intervention and an assessment of the effectiveness of each by international expert panels. The accompanying website www.conservationevidence.com describes each of the studies individually, and provides full references. This is the fourth edition of What Works in Conservation, which is revised on an annual basis