Ecological and conservation implications of illicit and unregulated species translocations
Ecological and conservation implications of illicit and unregulated species translocations
Conservation translocations – the movement of species to establish new populations, or bolster existing ones, for conservation purposes – are an important tool in addressing halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Whilst many conservation translocations are subject to regulatory approval, others fall outside of this. This includes illicit translocations, whereby species which should be subject to regulation are reintroduced by without approval, such as the case of Beavers (Castor fiber) in some places in the UK. It also includes unregulated translocations, which refers to release of species which do not require regulation, and where the actors involved have not engaged with authorities or necessarily followed best practice codes, such as with many insect (eg Black-veined White butterfly Aporia crataegi) and plant (Pheasant’s-eye Adonis annua) reintroductions in the UK. These are ecologically important – they are the sole or main root source of wild populations of several species. They pose important regulatory and conservation challenges, relating to how conservation should be done, by whom, and on ideas relating to biodiversity, biosecurity, native-ness, genetic provenance, and who decides this. These issues are particularly important if these species are potentially ecologically disruptive, if there are debates over the status of these species as native, or if the translocated individuals are from a different genetic population to extant or pre-existing populations, or if they are potential vectors of disease. Yet they are poorly understood and subject to almost no study. It is particularly important that they are subject to academic study, as there are important methodological and ethical barriers preventing regulators from assessing these translocations.
This research project would ask:
- Who is conducting illicit and unregulated species translocations, of which taxa, where, why and how?
- What are ecological impacts of such translocations, on the ecology, population size and genetic diversity of the translocated species, and on the broader ecosystem?
- What are the implications of such translocations for conservation policy, particularly on how concepts such as nativeness, risk and baselines are conceptualised.
Research question 1 would be answered through analysis of biodiversity datasets, expert elicitation, and sensitive questioning techniques. RQ3 would be based on expert elicitation. RQ2 would use empirical ecological fieldwork on illicit and/or unregulated translocated species and their environments, such as population surveys. The exact nature of this, and the taxa studied, would depend on the interests and skillset of the student.
The student will receive training in horizon scanning, sensitive questioning techniques and policy analysis, as appropriate to RQ 1 and 3, and in ecology, organism health, genetic analysis as appropriate to RQ2. This project would be undertaken in partnership with Natural England who will co-supervise the student and support the project by supplying data and survey contacts, identifying case study. In the final year of the project, the student would undertake a placement in the Natural England species reintroduction team, to share research findings, and to help shape conservation policy and practice in this area.