Solutions-oriented conservation science in the Anthropocene: biodiversity outcomes of urban interventions

人类世中以解决方案为导向的保护科学：城市干预措施的生物多样性成果

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04888
• 负责人: Buxton, Rachel
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=745635
• 关键词: Solutions; oriented; conservation; science; Anthropocene

Despite a growing body of conservation science, biodiversity across many taxa continues to decline worldwide. As action becomes ever more urgent, conservation science must move from understanding threats, to designing and testing solutions. Urban areas are critical for biodiversity conservation, as urbanization is a major contributor to biodiversity loss. Moreover, urban biodiversity represents the predominant exposure to nature and opportunity to engage with conservation for over half of the global population. As such, an increasing number of nature-based solutions and ecological restoration programs target biodiversity conservation in cities. Examples include tree planting, invasive species removal, and reducing human disturbance, and these initiatives can create habitat, reduce fragmentation, and minimize threats. Yet, how wildlife responds to conservation interventions in highly modified urban environments is unclear. This lack of understanding can lead to reduced efficacy and potentially costly project failures. My ultimate aim is to test the outcome of urban conservation solutions for wildlife communities in order to guide and mobilize more effective interventions. The long-term goal of my research program is to develop a framework for how bird and mammal communities respond to threat mitigation and habitat enhancement in complex, human-dominated urban environments. Over the next five years my trainees and I will pursue three short-term objectives that will combine broad evidence synthesis with direct testing of specific conservation interventions. To work towards my long-term goal, these objectives include: 1) examine key threats to wildlife in urban areas and the current evidence base for the effectiveness of mitigation; 2) determine whether reducing traffic, a key threat in an urban park, changes wildlife behaviour and demography; and 3) explore different factors affecting the recovery of bird communities after native tree-planting in urban schoolyards. As cities continue to grow, planning is required to guide more effective conservation solutions. My research program will grow the evidence base for urban wildlife conservation and resolve uncertainties about key urban biodiversity threats and mitigation. My research group will directly undertake conservation solutions and evaluate their impact, generating tangible environmental benefits for people and wildlife. We will involve scientists, managers, planners, and municipal decision-makers and importantly, co-produce knowledge with community members. This will ensure the research objectives and results are relevant and knowledge is mobilized. By providing networking opportunities with a broad group of collaborators and developing both field and modelling skills, trainees will be prepared for a range of scientific careers in the fundamental and applied realms.

尽管保护科学不断发展，但全球许多类群的生物多样性仍在持续下降。随着行动变得越来越紧迫，保护科学必须从了解威胁转向设计和测试解决方案。城市地区对于生物多样性保护至关重要，因为城市化是生物多样性丧失的主要原因。此外，城市生物多样性代表了全球一半以上人口接触自然的主要机会和参与保护的机会。因此，越来越多的基于自然的解决方案和生态恢复计划以城市生物多样性保护为目标。例如植树、清除入侵物种和减少人类干扰，这些举措可以创造栖息地、减少碎片化并最大限度地减少威胁。然而，在高度改造的城市环境中，野生动物如何应对保护干预措施尚不清楚。缺乏了解可能会导致效率降低以及可能导致代价高昂的项目失败。我的最终目标是测试野生动物社区城市保护解决方案的成果，以指导和动员更有效的干预措施。我的研究计划的长期目标是开发一个框架，指导鸟类和哺乳动物群落如何应对复杂的、人类主导的城市环境中的威胁缓解和栖息地增强。在接下来的五年中，我和我的学员将追求三个短期目标，将广泛的证据综合与具体保护干预措施的直接测试结合起来。为了实现我的长期目标，这些目标包括：1）检查城市地区野生动物面临的主要威胁以及缓解措施有效性的当前证据基础； 2) 确定减少交通（城市公园的一个主要威胁）是否会改变野生动物的行为和人口统计； 3）探讨影响城市校园植树造林后鸟类群落恢复的不同因素。随着城市的不断发展，需要规划来指导更有效的保护解决方案。我的研究计划将扩大城市野生动物保护的证据基础，并解决主要城市生物多样性威胁和缓解措施的不确定性。我的研究小组将直接采取保护解决方案并评估其影响，为人类和野生动物带来切实的环境效益。我们将让科学家、管理者、规划者和市政决策者参与进来，更重要的是，与社区成员共同创造知识。这将确保研究目标和结果的相关性并调动知识。通过提供与广泛的合作者建立联系的机会并培养现场和建模技能，学员将为基础和应用领域的一系列科学职业做好准备。