Content area
Full Text
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = Plant Ecol (2016) 217:123125 DOI 10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = EDITORIAL
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11258-016-0575-z&domain=pdf
Web End = Translocation ecology: the role of ecological sciences in plant translocation
Thomas Abeli . Kingsley Dixon
Published online: 10 February 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
Introduction
Translocations (sensu IUCN 2013) can be effective conservation tools only if they are undertaken with underpinning science to support the actions and outcomes. Translocations are rarely the simple exercise of moving species and/or populations for conservation purposes, the so-called gardening approach, rather, behind each translocation there should be a level of pragmatic and focused science to support the actions and to interpret the long-term viability of the action. Godefroid et al. (2011) for example, showed that the success of reintroductions can be at risk with even minor gaps in the knowledge of species biology, habitat requirements, threats, etc., leading to failure.
In the past decade, guidelines have been developed to improve the success of translocations (e.g. Maschinski et al. 2012; IUCN 2013; Rossi et al. 2013) on the basis of experiential evidence, but much more effort is required as the increase in the number of threatened taxa outstrips translocation knowledge and technical capacity. Reasons for failure are manifold, but a lack of knowledge of the species ecological requirements and the selection of ecologically suitable translocation sites loom large as constraints. A key to reduce this uncertainty is through a more active dialogue on the successes and failures of rare plant translocation and through greater integration of ecology into conservation matters.
This special issue highlights The role of ecological sciences in plant translocation, assembling 10 articles on different ecological issues relevant to successful translocation. Ecological studies are essential in different phases of a translocation and not just to understand the ecological requirements of a target species. Rare species are often rare because they have life history stages that act as bottlenecks to population growth, they may produce few propagules or propagules may be low in viability or have very narrow conditions for recruitment. All these ecological aspects are relevant in translocation as relevant...