Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate eggs or warm nests A replicated, controlled trial in the UK found that great tits Parus major were less likely to interrupt their laying sequence if their nest box was heated, although there was no effect on egg or clutch size. A small study in New Zealand found that no kakapo Strigopus habroptilus eggs or chicks died from chilling following the use of nest warmers. Before this a nest had been lost to chilling.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F503https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F503Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:34:31 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear seabirds in captivity Five studies from across the world found evidence for the success of hand-rearing seabirds. One small study in Spain found that one of five hand-reared Audouin’s gulls Larus audouinii successfully bred in the wild. Four studies found that various petrel species (Procellariiformes) successfully fledged after hand-rearing. One controlled study found that fledging rates of hand-reared birds was similar to parent-reared birds, although a study on a single bird found that the chick fledged at a lower weight and later than parent-reared chicks.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F604https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F604Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:50:42 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear penguins in captivityTwo replicated and controlled studies from South Africa found that hand-reared and released African penguins Spheniscus demersus had similar survival and breeding success as birds which were not orphaned and hand-reared.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F605https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F605Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:08:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear wildfowl in captivity Two replicated studies in Canada and India found high success rates for hand-rearing buffleheads Bucephala albeola and bar-headed geese Anser indicus in captivity. Eggs were artificially incubated or incubated under foster parents. A replicated, controlled study in England found that Hawaiian geese (nene) Branta sandvicensis chicks showed less well-adapted behaviours if they were raised without parental contact, compared to chicks raised by parents.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F606https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F606Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:11:00 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear gamebirds in captivityA single, replicated study in Finland found that hand-reared grey partridges Perdix perdix did not take off to fly as effectively as wild-caught birds, potentially making them more vulnerable to predation from ground predators.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F607https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F607Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:33:47 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear rails in captivityA controlled before-and-after study from New Zealand found that post-release survival of hand-reared takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri (formerly P. mantelli) was as high as wild-reared birds and that six of ten released females raised chicks.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F608https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F608Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:41:25 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear cranes in captivityA replicated and controlled study and a small study, both from the USA, found that hand-reared birds showed normal reproductive behaviour and higher survival than parent-reared birds.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F609https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F609Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:21 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear bustards in captivity A review of a houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii captive breeding programme in Saudi Arabia found that there was no difference in survival between artificially and parentally incubated eggs. A second review of the same programme found that removing eggs from clutches as they were laid increased the number laid by females.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F610https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F610Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:57:07 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear waders in captivity Three out of four replicated and controlled studies from the USA and New Zealand found that artificially incubated and/or hand-reared waders had higher hatching and fledging success than controls. One study from New Zealand found that hatching success of black stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae was lower for artificially-incubated eggs.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F611https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F611Sat, 13 Oct 2012 18:03:08 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear storks and ibises in captivityA small study in the USA describes the successful artificial incubation and hand-rearing of two Abdim’s stork Ciconia abdimii chicks, whilst a review of northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita conservation found that only very intensive rearing of a small number of chicks appeared to allow strong bonds to form between chicks – thought to be important for the successful release of birds into the wild.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F612https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F612Sun, 14 Oct 2012 11:55:51 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear vultures in captivityA study in Peru found that hand-reared Andean condors Vultur gryphus had similar survival to parent-reared birds after release into the wild.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F613https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F613Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:01:57 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear raptors in captivity Six studies from across the world found high success rates for artificial incubation and hand-rearing of raptors. A replicated and controlled study from France found that artificially incubated raptor eggs had significantly lower hatching success than parent-incubated eggs. This study found that fledging success for hand-reared chicks was similar to wild chicks, whilst a replicated and controlled study from Canada found that hand-reared chicks had slower growth and attained a lower weight than parent-reared birds. A replicated study from Mauritius found that hand-rearing of wild eggs had higher success than hand-rearing captive-bred chicks. Three studies that provided methodological comparisons found that American kestrel Falco sparverius eggs were more likely to hatch at 38.5oC, compared to 36oC or 40oC, that peregrine falcon F. peregrinus eggs should be incubated over 37oC and that falcon chicks gained far more weight when saline was added to their diet.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F614https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F614Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:05:10 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear parrots in captivity Two studies from South America describe the successful hand-rearing of parrot chicks, with ten of 12  yellow-shouldered amazons Amazona barbadensis surviving for a year after release and blue-fronted amazons Amazona aestiva fledging at higher weights than wild birds. A review of the kakapo Strigops habroptilus management programme found that chicks could be successfully raised and released, but that eggs incubated from a young age had low success. A study from the USA found that all hand-reared thick-billed parrots Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha died within a month of release: significantly lower survival than for wild-caught birds also translocated to the release site.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F615https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F615Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:29:14 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially incubate and hand-rear songbirds in captivity Four studies from the USA found high rates of success for artificial incubation and hand-rearing of songbirds. The one study to compare techniques found that crow chicks fed more food had higher growth rates, but that these rates never matched those of wild birds.    Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F616https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F616Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:34:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Artificially mist habitat to keep it damp One before-and-after study in Tanzania found that installing a sprinkler system to mitigate against a 90% reduction of river flow did not maintain a population of Kihansi spray toads.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F755https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F755Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:05:17 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply insecticide to protect seedlings from invertebrates One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the USA found that applying insecticide increased tree seedling emergence and survival.      Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1149https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1149Tue, 17 May 2016 15:18:10 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply herbicides after restoration planting One replicated, randomized, controlled study in the USA found that controlling vegetation using herbicides after restoration planting decreased plant species richness and diversity.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1241https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1241Fri, 03 Jun 2016 09:52:52 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply herbicide to trees One replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in South Africa found that using herbicide to control trees increased plant diversity but did not increase shrub cover. One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the UK found that herbicide treatment of trees increased the abundance of common heather seedlings. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1629https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1629Sun, 22 Oct 2017 11:29:53 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply textured coating to turbines One study evaluated the effects of applying a textured coating to turbines on bat populations. The study was in the USA. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY) Abundance (1 study): One paired sites study in the USA found that applying a textured coating to a turbine did not reduce the activity of four bat species or the number of bats observed. BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1957https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F1957Tue, 04 Dec 2018 14:30:07 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply water to vegetation to increase food availability during drought One study evaluated the effects on mammals of applying water to vegetation to increase food availability during drought. This study was in the USA. COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) POPULATION RESPONSE (0 STUDIES) BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY) Use (1 study): A controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that watering scrub during drought increased its use by adult Sonoran pronghorns for feeding. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F2555https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F2555Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:47:58 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply root dip to non-woody plants before planting: freshwater wetlandsWe found no studies that evaluated the effects – on emergent, non-woody plants typical of freshwater wetlands – of applying a non-fungal root dip before planting.   ‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3351https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3351Sun, 11 Apr 2021 17:12:52 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply root dip to non-woody plants before planting: brackish/saline wetlands One study evaluated the effects – on emergent, non-woody plants typical of brackish/saline wetlands – of applying a non-fungal root dip before planting. The study was in the USA. VEGETATION COMMUNITY   VEGETATION ABUNDANCE Individual species abundance (1 study): One replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study on mudflats in the USA found that root-dipping smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora before planting had mixed effects on cordgrass density after 1–2 growing seasons, but never increased it. VEGETATION STRUCTURE Height (1 study): One replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study on mudflats in the USA found that root-dipping smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora before planting had mixed effects on cordgrass height after two growing seasons. OTHER Survival (1 study): One replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study on mudflats in the USA found that root-dipped smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora plants typically had a lower survival rate, after one growing season, than plants that had not been root-dipped. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3352https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3352Sun, 11 Apr 2021 17:13:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply root dip to trees/shrubs before planting: freshwater wetlandsWe found no studies that evaluated the effects – on trees/shrubs typical of freshwater wetlands – of applying a non-fungal root dip before planting.   ‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3353https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3353Sun, 11 Apr 2021 17:13:16 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Apply root dip to trees/shrubs before planting: brackish/saline wetlandsWe found no studies that evaluated the effects – on trees/shrubs typical of brackish/saline wetlands – of applying a non-fungal root dip before planting.   ‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3354https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3354Sun, 11 Apr 2021 17:13:29 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Armour shorelines to prevent erosion We found no studies that evaluated the effects of armouring shorelines to prevent erosion on reptile populations. ‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3670https%3A%2F%2Fconservationevidencejournal.com%2Factions%2F3670Fri, 10 Dec 2021 11:37:19 +0000
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What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

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