Small wildlife surveys can produce ‘big picture’ results

Newswise —

Fresh studies demonstrate that conducting surveys of wildlife on a small scale can unveil the well-being of whole ecosystems.

The surveillance of wildlife constitutes one of the most challenging and expensive components of conservation efforts, frequently relying on prolonged monitoring of particular species.

However, the research reveals a novel and efficient approach.

It focusses on “interactions” between species, such as insects pollinating flowers or birds feeding on plants.

The findings indicate that a concise moment of interactions can serve as a dependable gauge of the well-being of an entire community of species. In particular, the research examined whether these communities exhibit "persistence" - indicating whether all species are thriving or if any are at risk of extinction.

Conducted by the University of Exeter, McGill University, the University of Toronto, Princeton University, and MIT, the research was undertaken.

"Every community of flora and fauna is sustained by a fundamental network of inter-species interactions," stated Dr. Christopher Kaiser-Bunbury, affiliated with the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

"By integrating theory, statistics, and empirical data, our research reveals that scrutinizing a small subset of these interactions can yield comprehensive insights into the well-being of an ecosystem," explained Dr. Christopher Kaiser-Bunbury, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

"This information holds utmost importance for policymakers, scientists, and societies as we strive to combat the worldwide biodiversity crisis."

When environmental circumstances shift, species interactions frequently adjust as well, presenting an early warning sign of broader issues.

Therefore, the study's approach can detect trends at a faster pace than certain conventional conservation monitoring methods, a crucial factor considering the swift alterations being induced by human activities.

"Through minimal resource utilization, we can promptly evaluate the sustainability of complete ecological networks as well as the probable efficacy of restoration measures," commented Dr. Benno Simmons, who is also associated with Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation.

"Our approach is particularly efficient in identifying instances when an ecological community is not persistent, enabling prompt recognition of the likelihood of extinction," added Dr. Benno Simmons, from Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation.

The paper, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is entitled: “Rapid monitoring of ecological persistence.”