suggesting the importance of long-term research to provide accurate information to
managers and policy-makers to optimise the application of conservation measures.
Keywords Conservation measures Á Gypaetus barbatus Á Long-term studies Á
Management Á Policy-makers Á Pyrenees Á Threatened species Á Vulture
15.1 Introduction
Detailed, long-term scientific studies of long-lived species although necessary are
relatively unusual (Clutton-Brock and Sheldon 2010; Mills et al. 2015, 2016), with
the main handicap to require a continual economic support (Birkhead 2014). On the
other hand, Ph.D. projects, as well managers, administrations and policy-makers
need, in most cases, immediate results. As a result, funding agencies usually operate
on short-term funding cycles, making it difficult to maintain the continual levels of
support required for long-term research.
Nevertheless, such studies are essential to understanding the factors that drive
population size and dynamics and to provide crucial information for conservation.
Thus, long-term monitoring of wild populations is necessary to obtain the information needed for conservation purposes. For example, some demographic and
ecological processes require long-term monitoring. Those relevant for conservation
include the need to estimate variation in demographic parameters over time, which
affect geometric population growth and establish population trends. For example,
the near extinction of some long-lived species as the Condor of California
(Gymnogyps californianus) related to lead intoxication (Mee and Hall 2007) and the
sudden regressive trend on three Asian vulture species during the last decade as
consequence of the intoxication by a veterinary drug (Oaks et al. 2004; Green et al.
2004) show the importance of long-term monitoring and the estimation of demographic parameters for conservation practice.
The identification of conservation problems through long-term studies to help
threatened species applying most appropriate measures constitutes a valuable tool
for managers and practitioners. Accordingly, the discipline of conservation biology
needs to be integrated into policy decisions to be effective, assuring that results
obtained are immediately applied.
In the case of threatened species, the identification and application of measures
to improve the conservation status and population trend are a priority for conservation biologists and policy-makers. This is the case of the bearded vulture
(Gypaetus barbatus), a long-lived, flashing endangered species that provides critical ecosystem services such as disease and pest control (Margalida et al. 2011a;
Margalida and Colomer 2012; Donázar et al. 2016), indirect greenhouse emissions
regulation (Morales-Reyes et al. 2015, 2017) or cultural inspiration and recreational
activities (Donázar et al. 2016). In Europe, a total of 215 territories have been
344
A. Margalida
managers and policy-makers to optimise the application of conservation measures.
Keywords Conservation measures Á Gypaetus barbatus Á Long-term studies Á
Management Á Policy-makers Á Pyrenees Á Threatened species Á Vulture
15.1 Introduction
Detailed, long-term scientific studies of long-lived species although necessary are
relatively unusual (Clutton-Brock and Sheldon 2010; Mills et al. 2015, 2016), with
the main handicap to require a continual economic support (Birkhead 2014). On the
other hand, Ph.D. projects, as well managers, administrations and policy-makers
need, in most cases, immediate results. As a result, funding agencies usually operate
on short-term funding cycles, making it difficult to maintain the continual levels of
support required for long-term research.
Nevertheless, such studies are essential to understanding the factors that drive
population size and dynamics and to provide crucial information for conservation.
Thus, long-term monitoring of wild populations is necessary to obtain the information needed for conservation purposes. For example, some demographic and
ecological processes require long-term monitoring. Those relevant for conservation
include the need to estimate variation in demographic parameters over time, which
affect geometric population growth and establish population trends. For example,
the near extinction of some long-lived species as the Condor of California
(Gymnogyps californianus) related to lead intoxication (Mee and Hall 2007) and the
sudden regressive trend on three Asian vulture species during the last decade as
consequence of the intoxication by a veterinary drug (Oaks et al. 2004; Green et al.
2004) show the importance of long-term monitoring and the estimation of demographic parameters for conservation practice.
The identification of conservation problems through long-term studies to help
threatened species applying most appropriate measures constitutes a valuable tool
for managers and practitioners. Accordingly, the discipline of conservation biology
needs to be integrated into policy decisions to be effective, assuring that results
obtained are immediately applied.
In the case of threatened species, the identification and application of measures
to improve the conservation status and population trend are a priority for conservation biologists and policy-makers. This is the case of the bearded vulture
(Gypaetus barbatus), a long-lived, flashing endangered species that provides critical ecosystem services such as disease and pest control (Margalida et al. 2011a;
Margalida and Colomer 2012; Donázar et al. 2016), indirect greenhouse emissions
regulation (Morales-Reyes et al. 2015, 2017) or cultural inspiration and recreational
activities (Donázar et al. 2016). In Europe, a total of 215 territories have been
344
A. Margalida