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Screen capture of Section I of the managed relocation risk assessment spreadsheet presented in a simple spreadsheet format. Spreadsheet rows contain section names and risk topics. Columns for risk level, evidence strength, agreement, and confidence contain drop down lists for ranking selection. Separate columns with checkboxes provided for sources of evidence allow users to select multiple sources. Page numbers presented next to each criterion direct users to where guidance for each criterion is found in these protocols. Interactive spreadsheet tool found at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2280035.
Source publication
Executive Summary Changing climate and introduced species are placing an increasing number of species at risk of extinction. Increasing extinction risk is increasing calls to protect species by relocating, or translocating, them to locations with more favorable biotic or climatic conditions. Managed relocation, or assisted migration, of species ent...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... cactus moth was released in the Caribbean as a biocontrol agent, but has skipped islands and colonized south Florida where it causes necrotic tissue damage and threatens native Opuntia species ( Zimmerman et al. 2001). Credit: NPS Several existing resources will specifically help when considering the risk of invasion (Figure 9). These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Risk Screening Summaries (ERSS) and the related Standard Operating Procedures (USFWS 2018), which apply to a wide array of species. ...
Context 2
... a hypothetical case study, we address the notion of moving Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri (Eaton) Torrey & Gray, Asteraceae), a federally endangered narrow endemic with declining populations, from its current locations to a vaguely defined region northward (Figure C-9). Given that the current distribution appears to reach the northern edge of the Great Lakes lakeshore in the US, and we are uncertain of the distribution of dunes north of its current distribution, this managed relocation project may include the augmentation of current populations through managed gene flow, moving individuals from more southerly populations into more northerly populations. ...
Context 3
... cactus moth was released in the Caribbean as a biocontrol agent, but has skipped islands and colonized south Florida where it causes necrotic tissue damage and threatens native Opuntia species ( Zimmerman et al. 2001). Credit: NPS Several existing resources will specifically help when considering the risk of invasion (Figure 9). These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Risk Screening Summaries (ERSS) and the related Standard Operating Procedures (USFWS 2018), which apply to a wide array of species. ...
Context 4
... a hypothetical case study, we address the notion of moving Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri (Eaton) Torrey & Gray, Asteraceae), a federally endangered narrow endemic with declining populations, from its current locations to a vaguely defined region northward (Figure C-9). Given that the current distribution appears to reach the northern edge of the Great Lakes lakeshore in the US, and we are uncertain of the distribution of dunes north of its current distribution, this managed relocation project may include the augmentation of current populations through managed gene flow, moving individuals from more southerly populations into more northerly populations. ...
Citations
... As such, there is a need to better understand assisted migration and proceed cautiously. Use of risk assessments (Karasov-Olson et al. 2021), modeling (Peterson and Bode 2021), and extensive engagement with relevant actors (e.g., rightsholders, conservation experts, and communities; Pelai et al. 2021) are common approaches used to understand uncertainty. Frameworks for considering the merits of assisted migration have been proposed (McLachlan et al. 2007;Schwartz and Martin 2013). ...
Assisted migration is increasingly being considered as a potential climate change adaptation tactic even though it also comes with potential risk to ecosystems and society. When implementing conservation actions that involve risk, it is prudent to have policies and guidelines to ensure that such actions are conducted in ways that conform to regional standards and consider risks. Here, we report on a policy scan focused on assisted migration in the context of climate change adaptation originally as a protected areas tactic only, but then broadened to ecosystems in Canada beyond those boundaries. Policy scans are a useful strategy for understanding the evolving policy and regulatory landscape for a given topic and can guide the development of such policies in other jurisdictions. Our scan focused on Canada, where multi-scalar governance systems exist relevant to biodiversity and environmental management. Our comprehensive policy scan (involving scans of legislation, policies, and guidelines found online and through direct inquiries with government bodies) revealed major gaps in the assisted migration policy landscape with very few provincial/territorial or federal policies in Canada. A more rudimentary scan in the United States revealed a similar pattern. There was evidence that some jurisdictions anticipated need for such policies and even a few examples of very specific policies (e.g., seeds) that had already been developed, but there were not comprehensive policies or frameworks. Governments and other relevant bodies/organizations may wish to consider working collaboratively toward the development of robust, evidence-based policies for assisted migration given that we anticipate this conservation intervention becoming more popular as climate change impacts on ecosystems become more evident and dire.
... The potential benefits and risks of assisted colonization must be judged on a case-by-case basis, and there have been several efforts to provide methods for evaluating the value and risks associated with assisted colonization projects (McLachlan et al., 2007;Richardson et al., 2009). The most rigorous framework yet for assessing assisted colonization projects was provided by Karasov-Olson et al. (2021a); Karasov-Olson et al. (2021b), as part of a collaborative process funded by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). ...
... Here, we assess the potential role of the California Channel Islands in conservation of Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses. Specifically, we examine: 1) the current and former status of albatrosses in the Channel Islands; 2) the suitability of each of the Channel Islands for albatrosses; 3) the feasibility of attempting to establish albatross breeding colonies in the Channel Islands by social attraction and translocation; 4) regulatory, logistical, and biological factors that could affect implementation of such a project, and 5) the potential benefits and risks of undertaking albatross conservation actions in the Channel Islands using the most current and rigorous scientific framework (Karasov-Olson et al., 2021a;Karasov-Olson et al., 2021b). ...
... There is thus some ambiguity as to whether attempting to establish a nesting colony of either species in the Channel Islands would be an assisted colonization, because the action being considered would not introduce an entirely new species, but instead facilitate use of the area for an additional life history stage or purpose (breeding instead of just foraging). Assisted colonization is consistent with USFWS policy, but NPS policy currently does not allow introduction of species not known to have inhabited an area previously, though this policy may change as awareness grows about the impacts of climate change and the importance of assisted colonization (Karasov-Olson et al., 2021a;Karasov-Olson et al., 2021b). Channel Islands National Park is facing similar questions in at least one other bird conservation management challenge, that of the Island Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma insularis; Morrison, 2014). ...
Laysan ( Phoebastria immutabilis ) and Black-footed Albatrosses ( P. nigripes ) nest primarily on low-lying atolls in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that are threatened by inundation from sea level rise and increasing storm surge associated with climate change. Restoration or creation of breeding colonies on higher islands is among the highest priority conservation actions for these species. A previous structured decision-making analysis identified the California Channel Islands as a possible restoration site for Black-footed Albatross. The California Current is part of the natural foraging ranges of Laysan and Black-footed albatrosses. Archaeological evidence indicates both species were present in the California Channel Islands prehistorically, yet neither currently nests in the Channel Islands. We assessed the feasibility of creating albatross breeding colonies in the Channel Islands using social attraction and translocation, and the suitability of each island. We used a risk analysis framework developed for the U.S. National Park Service to evaluate the potential ecological risks of this action. Creating an albatross colony in the Channel Islands is feasible using available methods. Santa Barbara and San Nicolas islands would be most suitable for albatross. Social attraction is less expensive and might be effective for creating a Laysan Albatross colony because that species is already visiting some islands. Translocation would be necessary to create a Black-footed Albatross colony. The risks associated with attempting to establish albatross breeding colonies in the Channel Islands were deemed to be generally low, but the risk of no action is high to these albatrosses. This can be a useful assisted colonization case study that can inform decisions by land managers and agencies regarding conservation of North Pacific albatrosses and other species.
... Rather than rejecting AM outright as too risky, researchers and practitioners are implementing AM in small-scale, experimental fashion to gain the knowledge for broader-scale implementation desired by land managers (Breed et al., 2013;Bucharova, 2017;Breed et al., 2018;Karasov-Olson et al., 2021;Sáenz-Romero et al., 2021;Palik et al., 2022). For example, the DREAM project (Royo et al., 2023) provides a framework for establishing an assisted migration study that combines basic and applied research to reduce uncertainties and derive climateinformed planting approaches. ...
... conservation genetics, and when necessary, movement of species (Loss et al., 2011). While implementation of assisted migration for the purpose of conservation in the face of climate change has been infrequent, the literature still has a wealth of resources available to help guide assisted migration decisions, including methods to identify priority species for introduction (Rout et al., 2013), models to map suitable future habitat (e.g., Palmer and Larson, 2014;Dade et al., 2014), and various decision frameworks and protocols (Abeli et al., 2014;Karasov-Olson et al., 2021). ...
Assisted migration entails the human assisted movement of individuals to more climatically-suitable areas within or outside of their current species range to help species respond to climate change. To better understand the potential for assisted migration to benefit species threatened by climate change, we conducted an evidence synthesis to map examples where assisted migration has been implemented around the world. With this mapping exercise, we collate and describe the quantity and key characteristics of the available evidence base, including the taxa, species conservation status, locations, and contexts relating to the use of this conservation tactic. Findings from this exercise highlight that assisted migration has been implemented very few times as a conservation tactic, though assisted migration has been conducted experimentally (for research purposes) and inadvertently (e.g., for reforestation) much more frequently. Assisted migration was most common for plants (particularly trees), followed by birds, and was rarely implemented for other taxa. Our review highlights the need for more research on assisted migration, with particular emphasis on understanding the population- and community-level outcomes of these actions. Our discussion focuses on the potential for assisted migration of Canadian species but will be informative to those considering assisted migration in other jurisdictions.
... The concept of the ecological niche is presented because translocations of individuals can also occur in areas with favourable abiotic and biotic characteristics outside of the species' native range ( Figure 1). Assisted colonization, also known as managed relocation (Richardson et al. 2009;Lawler and Olden 2011;Olden et al. 2011;Schwartz et al. 2012;Karasov-Olson et al. 2021), is defined as the translocation of a species to favourable habitat beyond the native range to protect it from human-induced threats (Ricciardi and Simberloff 2009). The term assisted colonization broadened the original term 'assisted migration', which was specific to the movement of individuals outside the native range of the species in response to climate change (McLachlan et al. 2007;Chauvenet et al. 2013). ...
... Freshwater mussel researchers have cautioned against the use of assisted colonization for imperilled freshwater mussels because of the limited literature on assisted colonization for freshwater mussels compared to other taxa being considered for the approach (Strayer et al. 2019). Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment of the ecological benefits and risks that considers the focal species and broader ecosystem components, as presented in Figure 3, is needed for proactive policy to inform future decisions on assisted colonization Swan et al. 2018;Strayer et al. 2019;Karasov-Olson et al. 2021). ...
... In this step, the potential influence of confounding factors on the likelihood of achieving the means objectives are assessed based on best available data and knowledge (i.e., evidence). Sources of evidence include observations from monitoring programs, field and laboratory experiments, the scientific literature, management and recovery documents, existing assessments, and expert opinion (Karasov-Olson et al. 2021). Table 1 provides a series of considerations that can each be assigned a likelihood for achieving the means objective. ...
For freshwater fishes and mussels listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), a federal recovery strategy or management plan identifies recovery measures for best achieving population and distribution objectives. Recovery strategies and management plans for SARA-listed freshwater fish and mussel species often identify conservation translocation, specifically supplementation or reintroduction, as a potential approach for improving survival and/or recovery. However, there has been limited progress in undertaking conservation translocations primarily due to basic information gaps on species ecology and uncertainty about how to assess the potential ecological benefits and risks to freshwater species and ecosystems. The objectives of this research document were to: 1) identify and evaluate the potential benefits and risks of conservation translocation as a tool for improving the survival, recovery, or management of SARA-listed freshwater fish and mussel species; and 2) identify science-based considerations and methods for determining when conservation translocation would be expected to improve the survival, recovery, or management of SARA-listed freshwater fishes and mussels.
... This dynamic is likely to be particularly salient in the Southeastern United States where conservation professionals and managers may seek out further resources to guide management options, which may include thinning out trees and shrubs to maintain early sunlight access for wildflowers (e.g. Maynard-Bean & Kaye, 2019 for non-native shrub removal) or managed relocation for wildflower species threatened by shading(Karasov-Olson et al., 2021). results provide new insight into phenological responses within and among species across a wide geographical range and the potential impact of competition and interactions with non-native invasive species. ...
Deciduous trees, shrubs and forest wildflowers may be advancing their leaf‐out phenology at different rates in response to a warming climate. A mismatch between understory and overstory phenology may lead to a reduction of understory light levels in the early spring, which is a critical period when many spring‐blooming wildflowers achieve highest photosynthetic rates. However, the extent of this phenomenon beyond a single site or region is largely unknown.
Using 3083 herbarium specimens collected between 1870 and 2019 across eastern North America, we assessed leaf‐out and flowering times of 10 tree species (6 native, 4 non‐native), 4 shrub species (2 native, 2 non‐native) and 7 wildflower species (6 native, 1 non‐native). We paired phenological data with historical climate data to quantify differences in phenological sensitivity to spring temperature across canopy strata, across species' geographical ranges and between native and non‐native species.
Predicted phenological mismatches between native trees and wildflowers differed across large spatial scales, with wildflower populations in warmer regions of North America more likely to be affected. Overall, native tree species leafed out 3.6 days earlier per °C spring warming, while native wildflower species advanced their flowering times by 3.2 days per °C, resulting in phenological mismatch as wildflowers experience fewer days before tree leaf‐out at warmer temperatures. Native trees and wildflowers in the warmer, southern part of their ranges advanced their spring phenology 2 and 1.5 times faster, respectively, than those in colder, northern locations. The phenological sensitivity of non‐native plants was less variable across their ranges. Non‐native trees and shrubs exhibited greater phenological sensitivity than native wildflowers. Notably, phenological sensitivities differed substantially among wildflower species, suggesting that certain species are more likely to be affected by phenological mismatch as climate warming progresses.
Synthesis: Our results provide new insight into novel phenological responses within and among species across a wide geographical range and the potential impact of competition and interactions with non‐native invasive species. This research highlights the value of newly‐available digitized museum collections in phenological research to cover longer time periods, wider spatial areas and a greater diversity of species than otherwise possible.
... Intentional movement of individuals or groups of animals from one location to another can help augment wildlife populations, facilitate adaptation to changing climates, increase genetic diversity or help restore populations of threatened or endangered species (IUCN/SSC, 2013;Seddon, 2010;Seddon et al., 2014). However, there are a variety of risks associated with translocation that can have unintended consequences for translocated animals, recipient populations, or associated communities, and ecosystem functions, as well as risks to domestic animals and humans (Berger-Tal et al., 2020;Cunningham, 1996;Karasov-Olson et al., 2021). Such risks may be ecological, social, economic, or health related, and must be weighed against projected benefits of translocation. ...
Evaluation of disease risks associated with wildlife translocations is important for minimizing unintended harm and achieving conservation goals. A framework for disease risk analysis (DRA) has been developed by the World Organization for Animal Health and International Union for Conservation of Nature, but applications for planning and implementation in wildlife conservation projects are limited. To fill this gap, we describe a DRA we conducted to identify, assess, and mitigate disease risks associated with reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Isle Royale National Park (IRNP). A total of 19 wolves were translocated from multiple locations within the Great Lakes Region to IRNP between September 2018 and September 2019. Integration of the DRA into project planning and use of diverse expertise among project personnel enabled a timely and cost‐effective process that facilitated multidisciplinary and cross‐cultural collaboration, transparent communication about risks and uncertainties, and practical management of disease risks for wildlife and personnel. Engaging disease experts and experienced field biologists in the assessment also helped to identify and account for potential sources of bias. We hope practical examples like this encourage wider adoption of DRA principles in translocations of wildlife for conservation purposes. Wildlife translocations have inherent disease risks that can jeopardize animal and human health and biodiversity conservation. We incorporated a disease risk analysis into planning for reintroduction of gray wolves to Isle Royale National Park and used outcomes of the analysis to mitigate risks for wildlife and human health.
... It is critical not only to promote AM as a tool that could assist species to adapt to climate change but also to minimize the risks associated with it. In March 2021, the National Park Service (NPS), U. S. Department of the Interior has published risk evaluation protocols and guidance for using them in the assessment of AM (Karasov-Olson et al. 2021). The authors of the protocols neither encourage to use of AM nor discourage it (ibid, vii). ...
... These provisions again refer to the necessity to weigh the benefits and risks of the activity, where the protocols developed under the NPS would be useful (Karasov-Olson et al. 2021). Thus, the managed relocation risk assessment protocol contains a section on risks associated with biological invasion in a form of a spreadsheet (ibid, p. 41). ...
The negative impact of climate change on biodiversity will continue to escalate rapidly. While some species will naturally migrate to more suitable areas or adapt to the new climatic environmental conditions in different fashions, for others doing so may prove to be problematic or impossible. Against this backdrop, scientists and environmentalists have proposed implementing plans for Assisted Migration (AM)—meaning the translocation of plants and animals to areas outside their natural habitats to conserve their species under the new emerging climatic conditions. This article seeks to identify legal approaches towards AM considering not only possible benefits from using this tool but also a necessity to minimize related risks. With regard to its stated purpose, this article also compares legal and policy documents relevant to AM issues from the United States, Australia, and the European Union. In conclusion, we have found, and this article shows, that while existing legal and policy documents leave room for manoeuvreing in regard to climate-related translocations and even sometimes explicitly mention AM as a possible tool for conservation, there exists a need for the further development of concrete legal mechanisms and their balancing with the predominant ideas and goals brought about by the necessity to protect native biota.
... Recently, more biodiversity experts view this strategy as justifiable under certain circumstances (with highest confidence for woody plants, terrestrial insects and mammals) (Javeline et al., 2015). Despite a current lack of adoption in most current conservation practice (Aitken and Bemmels 2015, Hewitt et al., 2011), some practitioners and funders see a potential role for the strategy in conservation planning (Ogden and Innes, 2007;Reside et al., 2018;Karasov-Olson et al., 2021). Recent models predict high likelihood of assisted migration success when species are translocated to high quality habitats (Peterson and Bode's, 2021), and these predictions are beginning to be supported by assisted migration experiments (e.g. ...
Over the past three decades, climate change adaptation has become a central focus in conservation. To inform these efforts, the scientific community has provided a growing body of recommendations on biodiversity management with climate change. A previously published study reviewed the first wave of such recommendations in the peer-reviewed literature as they occurred between 1985 and 2007. Here we build on that work, reviewing the literature from the subsequent time period, 2007–2017. We report on the development of the field between the two time periods, and review in depth three highly ranked, climate change-specific conservation strategies from the more recent time period. Overall, recommended strategies for ecological management have remained remarkably consistent over the last three decades, and the field continues to draw mainly on conventional, long-standing conservation approaches. However, the actionability and specificity of recommendations have increased, and certain novel, climate change-specific strategies have become more prominent, pointing the way toward increasing options for practitioner response.
... Finally, and most practically, it is the term our NPS planning partners use to characterize potential resource response to anthropogenic threats, and thus fosters integration with planning processes that address stressors without strong climate connections. 2 The NPS recently produced an ecological risk assessment for managed relocation (Karasov-Olson et al., 2021), which can help guide the evaluation process for such an activity. 3 "No-regrets" activities are new management actions that are expected to successfully achieve desired outcomes under all scenarios (NPS, 2013). ...
The impacts of climate change (CC) on natural and cultural resources are far‐reaching and complex. A major challenge facing resource managers is not knowing the exact timing and nature of those impacts. To confront this problem, scientists, adaptation specialists, and resource managers have begun to use scenario planning (SP). This structured process identifies a small set of scenarios—descriptions of potential future conditions that encompass the range of critical uncertainties—and uses them to inform planning. We reflect on a series of five recent participatory CC SP projects at four US National Park Service units and derive guidelines for using CC SP to support natural and cultural resource conservation. Specifically, we describe how these engagements affected management, present a generalized CC SP approach grounded in management priorities, and share key insights and innovations that (1) fostered participant confidence and deep engagement in the participatory CC SP process, (2) shared technical information in a way that encouraged informed, effective participation, (3) contextualized CC SP in the broader picture of relevant longstanding or emerging nonclimate stressors, (4) incorporated quantitative approaches to expand analytical capacity and assess qualitative findings, and (5) translated scenarios and all their complexity into strategic action.
