Flagship species are widely used in conservation but this single species approach has attracted criticism. One response is the "flagship fleet," which uses several flagship species in one conservation marketing campaign. However, marketing theory suggests multibrand campaigns can be counter-productive. Here, we develop an evaluation strategy for conservation flagships, and use it to: measure the effectiveness of an existing bird flagship species; detect whether additional species are needed; and, if appropriate, identify which species should be added to create a flagship fleet. We show the bird species has high levels of visibility and recognition, but has traits that appeal to only half the target audience. We also show that this shortcoming could be overcome by forming a flagship fleet based on adding an endemic mammal or fish species but there are additional strategic considerations that must be taken into account, namely in terms of costs and potential future conflicts.
Aim
The global decline of megafauna is believed to have had significant and widespread ecological impacts. One such extinction of likely important consequence is the 18th century extinction of the Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas); however, little has been written about how the loss of this megaherbivore may have impacted coastal ecosystem dynamics. Drawing on historical evidence, sea cow biology, kelp forest ecology, and the ecology of extant sirenians, we propose several discrete hypotheses about the effects Steller’s sea cows may have had on kelp forest dynamics of the North Pacific.
Location
North Pacific Ocean.
Time period
Pre‐1760s.
Major taxa studied
Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas).
Results & conclusions
The evidence we review suggests that Steller’s sea cows exerted substantial direct and indirect influences on kelp forests, likely affecting the physical ecosystem structure, productivity, nutrient cycling, species interactions, and export of nutrients to surrounding ecosystems. This suggests that kelp forest dynamics and resilience were already significantly altered prior to the influence of more recent and well‐known stressors, such as industrial fishing and climate change, and illustrates the important ecological roles that are lost with megafaunal extinction.
Os complexos estuarinos Timonha/Ubatuba e Cardoso/Camurupim (fi gura 1) fazem parte de sistemas ambientais costeiros integrados através de um conjunto de fl uxos de matéria e energia que atuou de modo a originar os componentes geoambientais e ecossistemas associados. Foram defi nidos de acordo com os constituintes morfológicos e aspectos dinâmicos observados durante as etapas de campo. Para as morfologias foram caracterizados e classifi cados os fl uxos de primeira ordem (relação direta na produção de matéria), sua distribuição espacial e integração com os demais elementos da paisagem ao longo da planície costeira e tabuleiro litorâneo.Cada fl uxo evidenciou uma elevada diversidade de funções e serviços ambientais que mantêm os complexos estuarinos como sistemas integrados. Como se trata de uma abordagem relacionada aos princípios da geomorfologia, paisagens integradas e ecologia, somente parte da complexidade foi representada.
ResumoA defi nição qualitativa dos serviços ambientais foi realizada de acordo com a dinâmicas associada à origem e evolução dos componentes naturais dos estuários. Os complexos estuarinos foram mapeados e defi nidos os principais fl uxos de matéria e energia, como fundamentos metodológicos para caracterizar os impactos ambientais. Foi fundamental evidenciar a relação de subsistência das comunidades tradicionais e indígenas, para análise integrada das externalidades ambientais das atividades potencialmente degradadoras da biodiversidade. Os resultados demonstraram extrema complexidade para evidenciar índices que se aproximem dos valores fi nanceiros do conjunto de serviços. Demonstrou-se que valorar os estuários do ponto de vista do mercado e consumo é inadequado para defi nir formas de apropriação pelo consumo globalizado.Palavras-chave: Estuários, impactos ambientais, fl uxos de matéria e energia, funções e serviços ambientais.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.