Umbrella species: critique and lessons from East Africa

Abstract

Umbrella species are 'species with large area requirements, which if given sufficient protected habitat area, will bring many other species under protection'. Historically, umbrella species were employed to delineate specific reserve boundaries but are now used in two senses: (1) as aids to identifying areas of species richness at a large geographic scale; (2) as a means of encompassing populations of co-occuring species at a local scale. In the second sense, there is a dilemma as to whether to maximize the number or viability of background populations; the umbrella population itself needs to be viable as well. Determining population viability is sufficiently onerous that it could damage the use of umbrella species as a conservation shortcut. The effectiveness of using the umbrella-species concept at a local scale was investigated in the real world by examining reserves in East Africa that were gazetted some 50 years ago using large mammals as umbrella species. Populations of these species are still numerous in most protected areas although a few have declined. Populations of other, background species have in general been well protected inside reserves; for those populations that have declined, the causes are unlikely to have been averted if reserves had been set up using other conservation tools. Outside one reserve, Katavi National Park in Tanzania, background populations of edible ungulates and small carnivores are lower than inside the reserve but small rodent and insectivore abundance is higher. While we cannot compare East African reserves to others not gazetted using umbrella species, the historical record in this region suggests that umbrella species have been an effective conservation shortcut perhaps because most reserves were initially large and could encompass substantial populations of background species. It is therefore premature to discard the local-scale umbrella-species concept despite its conceptual difficulties.

The potential for large carnivores to act as biodiversity surrogates in southern Africa

“…Since large carnivores have among the largest home range requirements among terrestrial mammals (Carbone and Gittleman 2002), they are natural candidates for suitable umbrella species (Noss et al 1996;Ray 2005). However, although large mammal umbrellas have been eYcient in delineating East African reserves (Caro 2003), there is limited empirical support for protection of biodiversity by large carnivore umbrellas in general (Roberge and Angelstam 2004).…”

The priority value of scrubland habitats for carnivore conservation in Mediterranean ecosystems

“…Despite the importance of autoecological (single-species) habitat studies, we need more research at higher levels, for example, in identifying priority areas or habitats for conservation (Travaini et al 1997;Carroll et al 2001;Gurd et al 2001;Coppolillo et al 2004; but see Andelman and Fagan 2000;Linnell et al 2000). Because carnivores are indicator or umbrella species with a key role in ecosystems (Wilcox 1984;Noss et al 1996;Zielinski 1997;Gittleman et al 2001;Caro 2003; but see Linnell et al 2000) and they cope with a myriad of potential threats, the carnivore-habitat models should be among the most relevant for managers and conservationists, especially at large spatial scales (Noss et al 1996;Carroll et al 1999;MladenoV et al 1999;Caroll et al 2001).…”

International law and lions (Panthera leo): understanding and improving the contribution of wildlife treaties to the conservation and sustainable use of an iconic carnivore

“…Given its ecological importance as an apex predator, it is a keystone species. It is also an umbrella species, in that lion conservation tends to benefit a range of other species (Caro 2003;Macdonald et al 2012;Dickman et al 2015). Lions certainly have large spatial requirements, and coexistence with humans, particularly outside protected areas, is often problematic .…”