1. Metapopulations and ConservationWhy Conservation Biology ? Habitat destruction & fragmentation Overharvesting (MCF) Exotic species Extinction cascades Genetic, spatial, and climate (change) effects Human population pressure Increased extinction & extinction debt

2. Island Biogeography Revisited Island birds Bighorn Sheep persistence depends on initial population size Figure 25.8

3. Population Viability Analysis Table 25.4 Birds on Californian Channel Islands Persistence as a function of initial population size

4. A line-up of examples of threatened taxa (Table 25.1)

5. 3 Standard Levels of Threat Figure 25.2

6. Invasive Species (Exotics) A consequence of human mobility Biotic effects on natural species assemblies Parasite release Particularly problematic on islands Introduction of natural enemies may work, but..

7. Virulence is subject to natural selection Figure 12.34 Myxoma virus in rabbits

8. Invasive Species (Exotics) A consequence of human mobility Biotic effects on natural species assemblies Parasite release Particularly problematic on islands Introduction of natural enemies may work, but.. The invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus, in Europe

9. The interplay of many factors Figure 25.5 Extinction vortexes towards extinction

10. Effects of Fragmentation Genetic erosion and inbreeding Demographic stochasticity Edge effects (50 m for birds?) Figure 25.9

11. Modelling Approaches 25.11 Dynamics of subpopulations Data: 25.12 Checkerspot butterflies

12. Analytical and Simulation Approaches 25.14 Mean time to extinction as function of carrying capacity V e = Variance in r due to environmental conditions 25.15 Cumulative probability of elephant extinction over 1000 years for 6 habitats without culling

13. Gorilla extinction with different recolonisation probability 25.16

14. How to go about in practice ? Decision tree Sumatran rhino’s: pE = extinction probability in 30 Years E(pE) = Expected Value $ = Cost 25.13

15. The endemism hotspot approach Figure 25.19 Carsten Rahbek ZMUC

16. Ongoing Research: Large blue butterflies in the genus Maculinea 5 European species Paintings by Richard Lewington

17. Large blue butterflies in the genus Maculinea 5 European species Parasites of Myrmica ant colonies

18. Large blue butterflies in the genus Maculinea 5 European species Parasites of Myrmica ant colonies Dependent on specific host plants Fra: Flora Danica

19. Large blue butterflies in the genus Maculinea 5 European species Parasites of Myrmica ant colonies Dependent on specific host plants Vulnerable, threatened, endangered or locally extinct

20. The life cycle of Maculinea alcon

21. The European distribution of M. alcon Myrmica scabrinodis Myrmica ruginodis Myrmica rubra ? Is this due to: Cryptic species? Regional host availability? Local host switching? Is this due to: Cryptic species? Regional host availability? Local host switching? Geographical variation in host use Elmes et al. (1989) Memorabilia Zoologica 48, 55-68.

22. Geographical variation in allozymes Gadeberg & Boomsma (1997) Journal of Insect Conservation 1, 99-111 Gyttegård Læsø Råbjerg Mile Tved Idom Vejers Frøslev Fanø

23. Geographical variation in host use Myrmica rubra M. ruginodis M. scabrinodis Gyttegård Læsø Råbjerg Mile Tved Idom Vejers Frøslev

24. The Main Study Populations Gyttegård Læsø Vejers 3 populations studied in detail l Cross-infection experiments l Surface chemistry

25. Laboratory adoption of Maculinea alcon

26. MacMan: A large EU program on Maculinea butterflies

27. Issues to be dealt with in a longer course What are the relative importances of genetic, environmental, and demographic factors for long term persistence of populations ? Why are long term monitoring studies important? Why are invasive species (ants particularly) nasty ?