Analogies for a No-Analog World: Tackling Uncertainties in Reintroduction Planning

ElizabethS Forbes; Peter S Alagona; Andrea J Adams; Sarah E Anderson; Kevin C Brown; Jolie Colby; Scott D Cooper; Sean M Denny; Elizabeth H T Hiroyasu; Robert Heilmayr; Bruce E Kendall; Jennifer A Martin; Molly Hardesty-Moore; Alexis M Mychajliw; Brian P Tyrrell; Zoë S Welch

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2020.04.005

Analogies for a No-Analog World: Tackling Uncertainties in Reintroduction Planning

Trends Ecol Evol. 2020 Jul;35(7):551-554. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.04.005. Epub 2020 May 13.

Authors

ElizabethS Forbes¹, Peter S Alagona², Andrea J Adams³, Sarah E Anderson⁴, Kevin C Brown⁵, Jolie Colby⁶, Scott D Cooper¹, Sean M Denny⁷, Elizabeth H T Hiroyasu⁸, Robert Heilmayr⁹, Bruce E Kendall⁷, Jennifer A Martin⁵, Molly Hardesty-Moore¹, Alexis M Mychajliw¹⁰, Brian P Tyrrell¹¹, Zoë S Welch¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9620, USA.
² Environmental Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4160, USA. Electronic address: alagona@es.ucsb.edu.
³ Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3060, USA.
⁴ Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5131, USA; Department of Political Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5131, USA.
⁵ Environmental Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4160, USA.
⁶ Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490, USA.
⁷ Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5131, USA.
⁸ Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5131, USA; The Nature Conservancy California, 445 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1950, Los Angeles, CA 90071, USA.
⁹ Environmental Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4160, USA; Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5131, USA.
¹⁰ Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, OK 73019, USA; La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA; Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
¹¹ Department of History, Reed College, 3203 Southeast Woodstock Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97202-8199, USA; Committee on Environmental Studies, Reed College, 3203 Southeast Woodstock Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97202-8199, USA.

PMID: 32416950
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.04.005

Abstract

Species reintroductions involve considerable uncertainty, especially in highly altered landscapes. Historical, geographic, and taxonomic analogies can help reduce this uncertainty by enabling conservationists to better assess habitat suitability in proposed reintroduction sites. We illustrate this approach using the example of the California grizzly, an iconic species proposed for reintroduction.

Keywords: California; analogies; brown bear; grizzly; habitat suitability; reintroduction.

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources*
Ecosystem*
Uncertainty