Della Garelle

Bio: Della Garelle is an academic researcher from University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The author has contributed to research in topics: Endangered species. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 7 citations.

Extreme Conservation Leads to Recovery of the Virunga Mountain Gorillas

Abstract: As wildlife populations are declining, conservationists are under increasing pressure to measure the effectiveness of different management strategies. Conventional conservation measures such as law enforcement and community development projects are typically designed to minimize negative human influences upon a species and its ecosystem. In contrast, we define “extreme” conservation as efforts targeted to deliberately increase positive human influences, including veterinary care and close monitoring of individual animals. Here we compare the impact of both conservation approaches upon the population growth rate of the critically endangered Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), which increased by 50% since their nadir in 1981, from approximately 250 to nearly 400 gorillas. Using demographic data from 1967–2008, we show an annual decline of 0.7%±0.059% for unhabituated gorillas that received intensive levels of conventional conservation approaches, versus an increase 4.1%±0.088% for habituated gorillas that also received extreme conservation measures. Each group of habituated gorillas is now continuously guarded by a separate team of field staff during daylight hours and receives veterinary treatment for snares, respiratory disease, and other life-threatening conditions. These results suggest that conventional conservation efforts prevented a severe decline of the overall population, but additional extreme measures were needed to achieve positive growth. Demographic stochasticity and socioecological factors had minimal impact on variability in the growth rates. Veterinary interventions could account for up to 40% of the difference in growth rates between habituated versus unhabituated gorillas, with the remaining difference likely arising from greater protection against poachers. Thus, by increasing protection and facilitating veterinary treatment, the daily monitoring of each habituated group contributed to most of the difference in growth rates. Our results argue for wider consideration of extreme measures and offer a startling view of the enormous resources that may be needed to conserve some endangered species.

Environmental Information Sources: Websites and Books

Abstract: EGJ Issue 28 Spring 2009 ISSN 1076-7975 Environmental Resources: Web Sites and Books Flora Shrode, Utah State University Library, USA Web Sites are listed in the following categories: Commercial Entities Educational Sites International Sites Nonprofit & Research Organizations U.S. Federal Agencies’ and State Government Sites Books Commercial Entities ConsumerReports.org: Saving on energy costs http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/resource-center/saving-on- energy-costs-10-07/overview/energy-ov.htm Lists 10 actions that individuals can take to save energy costs based on Consumer Reports’ experts’ testing of products and programs designed to save energy and pointing out those “that promise more than they deliver.” Financial Times: Climate Change Series http://www.ft.com/climatechangeseries From the website for the U.K. newspaper, the Financial Times, this news series looks at the politics of climate change. Includes stories related to the developed world and emerging economies, opinion pieces, and interactive features on climate change agreement and mapping carbon dioxide emissions. Provides links to stories on the science aspects of global warming. *** GreenHomeGuide http://www.greenhomeguide.com/ This website from the U.S. Green Building Council features a combination of tips, case studies, expert Q&A articles and regional directories of products and services. Browse by area or feature of the home, such as bathrooms or flooring. A product directory (covering San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York City) provides a detailed description of the process of selecting and approving the products included in it, noting that only a minority of products are approved. *** Educational Sites American Museum of Natural History: Science Bulletins http://www.amnh.org/sciencebulletins/ This website stands in for visiting the American Museum of Natural History in person in New York City. Online video features present developments in the fields of astrophysics, human biology, biodiversity, and evolution. Science educators can benefit from guides on the website to help them incorporate content from the Science Bulletins in their teaching and classroom learning activities.*

Ignoring Nature: Why We Do It, the Dire Consequences, and the Need for a Paradigm Shift to Save Animals, Habitats, and Ourselves

Abstract: What in the world is happening to our planet and why? We live in a wounded world that is in dire need of healing. We all should be troubled and terrified by what we have done and continue to do. Humans have made huge and horrific global messes that need to be repaired now. The overriding sense of turmoil is apparent to anyone who takes the time to pay attention. Researchers and non-researchers alike are extremely concerned about unprecedented global losses of biodiversity and how humans suffer because of our destructive ways. We are animals and we should be proud and aware of our membership in the animal kingdom. However, our unique contribution to the decimation of the planet and its many life forms demeans us. Humans are big-brained, invasive, and omnipresent mammals who seem to think they can do almost anything they want. Individuals in most cultures claim to love nature and other animals but then go on to abuse them in a multitude of ways. Clearly, our relationship with the rest of the world is a very confused one and our actions are often contradictory and paradoxical. Why do we ignore nature when the messages about our abusive and excessive behavior are abundantly clear? One would have to be a hermit not to hear about the damage we are causing on the planet, yet we continue our harmful ways as if in we’re living in oblivion. Sadly, most people do not have access to information that will help them understand our place on Earth and the consequences of our behavior. Most people are also unable to do much if anything about the dire situation in which we find ourselves. We are here, there, and everywhere and this isn’t good for us or other species because our peripatetic omnipresence and short lifespan have removed us from the nuances — the ups, downs, and timelessness — of natural cycles. Our global presence is a problem because we are able to trespass at will even when we’re not physically present, and there aren’t any ecosystems in which we’re not present and intrusively damaging. Truth told, we’re a species whom almost all other species could easily live without. We breed too much and over consume as if it’s the thing to do. To wit, The Global Footprint Network reports the world’s 6.7 billion humans are now consuming all resources 30 percent faster than the sustainable rate of replenishment. In the United States, people are consuming resources nearly 90 percent faster than the Earth can replenish them (http://www.worldpopulationbalance.org/wpb_newsletters/wpb_newsletter_2009aug.pdf) Humans have an interesting past. We evolved in a world unimpeded by “human progress” and then we began tripping over our own feet. Once, we were alert to and in tune with nature and the other beasts with whom we shared space. There was competition for survival but also reverence and respect, and we knew that coexistence and sustainability were necessary even before science told us this was so (as evidenced by remnant indigenous cultures). When did we begin ignoring nature? Why did we start ignoring our need for untainted and healthy food, clean water, clean air, and reasonable shelter? How did we become so disconnected from nature and an understanding of basic ecological processes? What allows us to tolerate human-induced losses in biodiversity? What can we do about the distance and alienation from nature and other animals that allows us to be so damaging? While it may be that some early humans lived unsustainably (e.g., Easter Islanders) and life back then is easy to romanticize, it is not only our peripatetic nature and mobility but also our ability to deal with situations using technological fixes unavailable to early humans that allows us today to live out of synch, in abusive ways, with natural rhythms and other species, at least for Ignoring Nature: Why We Do It, the Dire Consequences, and the

Niche Specialization and Conservation Biology of Cicindela nevadica lincolniana

Abstract: 13 Introduction 14 Methods and Materials 17 Results 20 Discussion 21 Tables and Figures 29 Chapter 2 Captive Rearing and Mortality Analysis of Cicindela nevadica lincolniana Abstract 35 Introduction 36 Methods and Materials 41 Results 44 Discussion 46 Tables and Figures 5835 Introduction 36 Methods and Materials 41 Results 44 Discussion 46 Tables and Figures 58 Chapter 3 Behavioral niche partitioning in a sympatric tiger beetle assemblage Abstract 62 Introduction 63 Methods and Materials 67 Results 6962 Introduction 63 Methods and Materials 67 Results 69 Discussion 71 Tables and Figures 75 Chapter 4 Using the visual arts to promote the conservation of the Salt Creek tiger beetle Abstract 89 Introduction 9089 Introduction 90 Methods and Materials 95 Results and Discussion 97 Tables and Figures 103 Summary and Conclusions 109 Literature Cited 112