Publications
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Moore, J.L., A.E. Camaclang, A.L. Moore, C.E. Hauser, M.C. Runge, V. Picheny, and L. Rumpff. (Accepted). A framework for allocating conservation resources between multiple threats and multiple actions. Conservation Biology.
Camaclang, A.E., J. Currie, E. Giles, G.J. Forbes, C.B. Edge, W.A. Monk, J.J. Nocera, G. Stewart-Robertson, C. Browne, Z.G. O’Malley, J. Snider, and T.G. Martin. 2020. Prioritizing threat management across terrestrial and freshwater realms for species conservation and recovery. Conservation Science and Practice 2020: e300. DOI: 10.1111/csp2.300
Burgass, M.J., C. Larrosa, D.P. Tittensor, W.N.S. Arlidge, H. Caceres-Escobar, A. Camaclang, S. Hampton, C. McLaverty, E. Nicholson, V.K. Muposhi, C.M. Pinto, J.A. Rowland, S.L. Stevenson, K.E. Watermeyer, and E.J. Milner-Gulland. 2020. Three key considerations for biodiversity conservation in multilateral agreements. Conservation Letters 2020: e12764. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12764
Camaclang, A.E., J.M.R. Curtis, I. Naujokaitis-Lewis, M. S. Poesch, and M. A. Koops. 2017. Modelling the impact of poaching on metapopulation viability for data-limited species. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 74:894-906. DOI: 10.1139/cjfas-2015-0508
Martin, T.G., A.E. Camaclang, H.P. Possingham, L.A. Maguire, and I. Chadès. 2017. Timing of protection of critical habitat matters. Conservation Letters 10:308-316. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12266
Camaclang, A.E., M. Maron, T.G. Martin, and H.P. Possingham. 2015. Current practices in the identification of critical habitat for threatened species. Conservation Biology 29:482-492. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12428
Camaclang, A.E., L. Hollis, and R.M.R. Barclay. 2006. Variation in body temperature and isolation calls of juvenile big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus. Animal Behaviour 71: 657-662. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.07.009
THESES
Camaclang, A.E. 2016. Identifying critical habitat for threatened species: concepts and challenges. PhD Thesis. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
My PhD research focused on examining the theory, policy, and current practice of identifying critical habitat for threatened and endangered species in Canada, the United States, and Australia, as well as the development and application of mathematical optimisation and structured decision making approaches to help inform decisions on when and how to identify these habitats. As part of my thesis, I reviewed existing laws and policies surrounding the identification and protection of critical habitat, and met with biologists from the Canadian Wildlife Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Australian Department of the Environment to learn more about how these laws and policies are implemented. I also examined current practices in critical habitat identification (Camaclang et al. 2015), and their potential implications for the persistence of threatened species. To provide guidance on when and how to identify critical habitats, I used a mathematical optimisation approach to predict how much time should be spent on research and data collection before protecting the habitats of threatened species, and demonstrated how a structured decision making framework can be used to improve the consistency and transparency of critical habitat identification. The overall aim of my thesis was to contribute to the conservation and recovery of threatened species through the improvement of the policies and practices surrounding critical habitat identification.
My PhD research focused on examining the theory, policy, and current practice of identifying critical habitat for threatened and endangered species in Canada, the United States, and Australia, as well as the development and application of mathematical optimisation and structured decision making approaches to help inform decisions on when and how to identify these habitats. As part of my thesis, I reviewed existing laws and policies surrounding the identification and protection of critical habitat, and met with biologists from the Canadian Wildlife Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Australian Department of the Environment to learn more about how these laws and policies are implemented. I also examined current practices in critical habitat identification (Camaclang et al. 2015), and their potential implications for the persistence of threatened species. To provide guidance on when and how to identify critical habitats, I used a mathematical optimisation approach to predict how much time should be spent on research and data collection before protecting the habitats of threatened species, and demonstrated how a structured decision making framework can be used to improve the consistency and transparency of critical habitat identification. The overall aim of my thesis was to contribute to the conservation and recovery of threatened species through the improvement of the policies and practices surrounding critical habitat identification.
Camaclang, A.E. 2007. Science, management, and policy in conservation biology: protecting post-emergent hatchling Blanding’s turtles in Nova Scotia. Masters Thesis. Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Hatchling Blanding’s turtles were radio-tracked following nest emergence to study their behaviour, movements and habitat use. Hatchlings in the study used different habitats near the nest following emergence, and travelled to nearby wetlands for overwintering. Hatchlings also used moist or saturated microhabitats with ground vegetation cover. High hatchling mortality rates, due to predation, exposure to cold and high water levels, and road mortality, were observed in the study. Risk analysis indicated that hatchlings may also be vulnerable to habitat loss/disturbance and climate change, and minimizing these risks should be an important part of conservation initiatives. Policy analysis revealed that information and economic instruments have been effective in promoting research and stewardship, while regulatory instruments have been used primarily as a safety net. This research explored the conservation of hatchling Blanding’s turtles from the science, management, and policy perspectives, and highlighted the importance of all three in achieving conservation goals. Future conservation initiatives should focus on increasing current knowledge of younger age classes of Blanding’s turtles, particularly the overwintering survival of hatchlings and the cues they use in selecting habitats, and on encouraging the use of other economic policy instruments and stronger regulatory instruments to help protect Blanding’s turtles and their habitats in Nova Scotia.
Hatchling Blanding’s turtles were radio-tracked following nest emergence to study their behaviour, movements and habitat use. Hatchlings in the study used different habitats near the nest following emergence, and travelled to nearby wetlands for overwintering. Hatchlings also used moist or saturated microhabitats with ground vegetation cover. High hatchling mortality rates, due to predation, exposure to cold and high water levels, and road mortality, were observed in the study. Risk analysis indicated that hatchlings may also be vulnerable to habitat loss/disturbance and climate change, and minimizing these risks should be an important part of conservation initiatives. Policy analysis revealed that information and economic instruments have been effective in promoting research and stewardship, while regulatory instruments have been used primarily as a safety net. This research explored the conservation of hatchling Blanding’s turtles from the science, management, and policy perspectives, and highlighted the importance of all three in achieving conservation goals. Future conservation initiatives should focus on increasing current knowledge of younger age classes of Blanding’s turtles, particularly the overwintering survival of hatchlings and the cues they use in selecting habitats, and on encouraging the use of other economic policy instruments and stronger regulatory instruments to help protect Blanding’s turtles and their habitats in Nova Scotia.
TECHNICAL REPORTS
Camaclang, A.E., A. Moehrenschlager, and P. Fargey. 2010. Swift fox use of gas structure sites at a small Community Pasture in southwest Saskatchewan. Centre for Conservation Research Report No. 3. Calgary Zoo, Calgary, AB, Canada.
The swift fox is a previously extirpated carnivore that has been re-established in Canada through reintroductions occurring from 1983 to 1997. While fragmentation is known to negatively impact swift fox distributions on a population scale, it was unknown whether swift foxes would utilize areas that have been recently fragmented by natural gas developments. Using motion-sensor cameras at scent stations, swift fox visitation was documented at gas structures and random points in one township in southwestern Saskatchewan. On the Govenlock Community Pasture, swift foxes were found to visit random points and gas structures with similar frequencies and latencies. While the presence of scent posts increased visitation frequencies to all camera-trap sites, the size of structures and presence of potential prey species did not appear to affect swift fox visitation frequencies to structure sites relative to random posts. These results indicate that, depending on the scale of fragmentation, gas developments do not necessarily exclude swift foxes. However, non-avoidance of gas structures can increase the risk of exposure to on-site leaks, fires, or other contamination in the short term, or to any detrimental long-term and cumulative effects of such industrial activities on survival, reproduction, or recruitment of swift foxes. Previous work on other species suggest that there is a high potential for negative impacts to occur through changes in habitat use and availability, reduced fitness and reproductive output, or increases direct or indirect mortality.
The swift fox is a previously extirpated carnivore that has been re-established in Canada through reintroductions occurring from 1983 to 1997. While fragmentation is known to negatively impact swift fox distributions on a population scale, it was unknown whether swift foxes would utilize areas that have been recently fragmented by natural gas developments. Using motion-sensor cameras at scent stations, swift fox visitation was documented at gas structures and random points in one township in southwestern Saskatchewan. On the Govenlock Community Pasture, swift foxes were found to visit random points and gas structures with similar frequencies and latencies. While the presence of scent posts increased visitation frequencies to all camera-trap sites, the size of structures and presence of potential prey species did not appear to affect swift fox visitation frequencies to structure sites relative to random posts. These results indicate that, depending on the scale of fragmentation, gas developments do not necessarily exclude swift foxes. However, non-avoidance of gas structures can increase the risk of exposure to on-site leaks, fires, or other contamination in the short term, or to any detrimental long-term and cumulative effects of such industrial activities on survival, reproduction, or recruitment of swift foxes. Previous work on other species suggest that there is a high potential for negative impacts to occur through changes in habitat use and availability, reduced fitness and reproductive output, or increases direct or indirect mortality.