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Biological control with specialist, nonindigenous, herbivorous insects is an important option for controlling invasive exotic plants in wildlands and nature reserves. It is assumed that biological control agents will reduce the dominance of the target weed, thereby increasing the native diversity of the associated plant community. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested. We introduced Aphthona nigriscutis into grassland sites infested with the invasive exotic species Euphorbia esula L. on a nature reserve in Montana (U.S.A.). Two sites with better soil had been treated previously with herbicide, whereas two other sites had not. We measured the density and biomass of Euphorbia vegetative and flowering stems and number of native and exotic shrubs, grass-like plants, and forbs in 48 microplots in Aphthona release and control macroplots at each site. After 5 years, Aphthona release was associated with a 33–39% decline in Euphorbia aboveground biomass compared with controls at all sites. Other effects of the biocontrol depended on the site. Biocontrol slowed the recovery of species diversity at the sites previously treated with herbicide but slowed the loss of diversity at sites without a history of herbicide. Biocontrol introduction was not associated with a disproportionate increase in nontarget exotic species. Release of Aphthona caused a decline in the biomass of flowering stems relative to controls at good-soil, previous-herbicide sites but was associated with a relative increase in flower stem mass at poor-soil, no-herbicide sites. Our results suggest that biocontrol reductions in weed dominance will not always be associated with increased species diversity. More emphasis should be placed on conserving desirable communities and less on simple weed control. Monitoring of community-level effects should accompany biocontrol introductions on nature reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis ) is under consideration for federal protection and has stimulated ecosystem-level management efforts in Sierra Nevada national forests. Because some populations are declining, we used a noninvasive fecal sampling method to estimate stress hormone (i.e., corticosterone) levels within a local population from April to August 2001. Fecal corticosterone levels were similar to those recorded in a previous study of Northern Spotted Owls (S.o. caurina ) ( &xmacr;= 80.1 ng/g dry feces, SE = 75.8). We then used an information-theoretic approach to identify factors that influence fecal corticosterone levels in Spotted Owls. Our best overall model indicated that nonbreeding owls had higher fecal corticosterone levels than breeding owls early in the breeding season and lower levels later in the breeding season. We collected few samples from breeding owls early in the breeding season, however, which may have influenced the results. Management-related factors reflecting habitat condition and proximity to roads were not correlated with fecal corticosterone. However, factors such as field storage method and sample mass were correlated with the amount of measured fecal corticosterone and should be considered in future studies. Sample vials initially stored on ice had higher levels than those stored immediately in liquid N2 (βstorage= 0.269 ln[ng/g], 95% CI = 0.026, 0.512). Hormone metabolites were extracted from extremely small samples (0.01 g) by slightly modifying the assay protocol, but the amount of corticosterone detected increased as the sample mass decreased (βmass=−6.248 ln[ng/g], 95% CI =−8.877, −3.620). Corticosterone levels were significantly higher in 10 cecal samples collected simultaneously with fecal samples (paired difference = 74.7 ng/g, SE = 45.0, p = 0.001 for a paired t test), so care must be taken to avoid contaminating fecal samples with cecal material. Most of the variation was unexplained by our best model ( R 2= 0.24), and additional factors influencing fecal corticosterone levels need to be identified. Therefore, we recommend that well-designed experiments be conducted under controlled conditions to better determine the effect of factors such as sample handling, partial sampling, and diet on fecal corticosterone levels in owls and other birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with the Society for Conservation Biology's evaluation of species recovery plans in the U.S. Protection of endangered species; Adaptive management; Community-based conservation efforts.

In this article, the author discusses the flaw issues on a study regarding energy boomtown counties and their social conditions in the U.S. The author scrutinizes the validity of the research where, he suggests for its reanalysis. The author cites the increasing number of criminals in those energy-producing towns and cities, particularly sex offenders. The author also tackles the role of human population growth in social change.

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Replies to the comments of P. Beier concerning the authors' article on the reliability of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data. Recovery plans of the U.S. Endangered Species Act; Principles of adaptive management; Wildlife conservation.

This article discusses a ranking of U.S. and Canadian academic institutions based on their relative contribution to the field of conservation biology. The authors argue that the purpose of the ranking is to provide a relative evaluation of an institutions research performance over time, and to provide students a relative index for education and future employment. In addition, it can be used by those in need of conservation research such as conservation groups, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, land trusts, and employers of conservation biologists. The ranking indexes include total publications, citations, and Hirsch’s h index which attempts to measure of the amount of influence for institutions top ranked articles.

Describes the legitimacy and adoption of a scientific biological program in the U.S. Emphasis on the improvement of organizational sociology and environmental policy; Role of social institutions on the development of science of biological control; Enhancement of the pesticide development.

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Editorial. Discusses ways Americans, through their behavior and choices, can reduce parochialism and provincialism in the field of conservation biology and promote conservation science globally. Attendance and full participation in the first annual meeting of the Society of Conservation Biology in Europe in July 2002; Society journal's need for more good papers from outside North America.

Comments on the issues related to conservation biology in the U.S. Drainage of Plum Creek; Economic changes in Oberlin, Ohio; Creation of electronic quick mail system to reduce paper use.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The section introduces several articles in the special section of the December 2013 issue of "Conservation Biology," which included case studies and papers describing how effects of climate change can be incorporated in risk analyses for aquatic species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

This article comments on a research paper related to trout hybridization and the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The paper recommend only "nonhybridized" populations be considered Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT), under the ESA. The authors argue that if this recommendation is followed, then populations with any detectable introgression would be excluded from the sub species and would be eligible for eradication under an ESA listing. Hence, for situations like WCT, a biological dichotomy occur between the need to conserve the genetic resources of an imperiled species in which introgression has occurred and the need to eliminate hybridization threats posed by introduced taxa.

This article presents a response from the authors' to comments made on their research paper related to hybridization and conservation. The comments were made by author Donald E. Campton and Lynn R. Kaeding. They disagreed with the recommendation that only "nonhybridized" populations be considered westslope cutthroat trout for possible listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). The authors' focused on the issues raised by Campton and Kaeding because the authors' believed that these issues are of general importance for dealing with hybrids in conservation and also for listing under the ESA.

This article is a defense of a previous article called "A biological framework for evaluating whether an ESA species is threatened or endangered in a 'significant portion of its range'" that was critiqued by other scholars. In that paper, the authors argued for a changed definition of the way that the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) defines the significant portion of its range (SPOIR). The authors also argue that their idea of SPOIR would give species that are not threatened or endangered greater protection. Finally, the authors explain the process by which they were asked to develop a SPOIR framework and they acknowledge that adopting the framework would be to redesign how ESA defines threatened and endangered species.

The article provides updates within the Society for Conservation Biology in the U.S. It reports that the environment and natural resources has recently published the policy paper of the U.S. Agency for International Development. It offers information on the World Wildlife Fund conference entitled "Consequences of Global Warming for Biological Diversity" to be held on October 4-6, 1988 in Washington, D.C. Moreover, it announces the availability of the publication "Proceedings of a Conference: Increasing Our Wetland Resources."

Demonstrates an autecological analyses on fire-return intervals on increasing amphibian richness in the U.S. Use to counts of the minimum number of amphibians; Inclusion of the influence of individual amphibian species on the correlation between species richness and the time since fire; Implication of the limited resources.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Focuses on the intervention and persistence in small populations of bighorn sheep in California. Relationship between population size and extinction; Risk in using single demographic parameters for the prediction of extinction; Use of biogeographic theory in conservation.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summarizes the fire-management principles of relevance to conservation biology in the western United States. Impacts of fire-suppression activities and offer suggestions for analyzing and reducing on detrimental effects on natural communities; Implication of climate change on existing and future scenarios; Predominant factor in area burned and fire intensity that may affect plant distributions.

This editorial points out that there is a trend of weakening influence of scientific information on public attitudes and decision making in the United States concerning the environment. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a four-year-long assessment modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was bared noticed in the United States. The assessment focuses on the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. While it is possible that most of the blame for the MA being a nonevent in the U.S. is with commercial media, a contributing factor is that many of the very organizations that historically have helped push scientific findings in the forefront of policy debates are now openly skeptical of the importance and utility of scientific information.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Comments on issues related to the publication of the journal 'Conservation Biology' in the U.S. Expansion on the source scope of the papers; Effect of the journal on the environmental policy; Gap between conservation biology academicians and practitioners.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this article, the author comments on the social changes happened in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem counties in the U.S. The author states the accelerating number of sex offenders in the said region due to societal, ethical, and economic changes. The author denotes the occurrence of gloomy social condition of counties' inhabitants. The author also tackles the ethical and economic conditions of these areas.

Replies to the comments of L. Gerber concerning the author's article about the process of delisting of species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Limited ability to delist species under the ESA; Efforts to avoid habitat destruction; Five-year monitoring requirement after delisting.

Analyzes several abstracts for the 2002 meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology in Canterbury, New Hampshire. Categorization of the abstracts; Alternate explanations for the findings; Implementation of conservation activities.

The article offers news briefs related to conservation biology. A global computer services called the EcoNet has been created, which features conferences on environmental topics. The 1988 International Conference is scheduled for May 5-7 in Massachusetts. The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, in cooperation with various associations, is offering a conference to promote management of the ecosystem.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An essay is presented on climate change assessment. The author reflects on the capability of the conservation professionals to address displacement behavior in climate-change biology. The author discusses the concept of connectivity with different purposes in response to climate change. The author suggests an improved political situation that stress the governance support needs from the U.S.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article reports on a study according to which climatic change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions is a major threat to flora and fauna of the U.S. and worldwide. As stated, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service are preparing strategies and actions to conserve nation's wildlife. It offers information on the latest version of federal recovery plans used for endangered species. It includes conservation programs, identification of climate vulnerable species, and choosing a strategic habitat conservation framework. Thus, climate analysis also states that the future of endangered species depends on national policy for which the recovery plans for species should recommend reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a matter of urgency.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the significance of genetics in the favourable conservation status' (FCS) interpretation. It notes the consideration of FCS as a central concept in the legislation on biodiversity conservation of the European Union (EU) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other related legislation in the U.S. It proposes the criteria lists for the favorable reference population (FRP) and for FCS and mentions the required population size for long term viability. It recommends ways for conservation biologists and geneticists to contribute to the interpretation of FCS.