Changes in social groups across reintroductions and effects on post‐release survival. (11th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Franks, V. R.; Andrews, C. E.; Ewen, J. G.; McCready, M.; Parker, K. A.; Thorogood, R.
• Is Part Of: Animal conservation. Volume 23:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 443
• Page End: 454
• Publication Date: 2019-12-11
• Subjects: conservation translocations -- social network -- juvenile -- survival -- hihi -- Notiomystis cincta -- reintroductions -- social groups; Conservation biology -- Periodicals; Wildlife conservation -- Periodicals; Conservation de la biodiversité; Conservation de la faune; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 333.95416
• DOI: 10.1111/acv.12557
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-9430

Abstract

Abstract: Reintroductions, essential to many conservation programmes, disrupt both abiotic and social environments. Despite growing recognition that social connections in animals might alter survival (e.g. social transmission of foraging skills, or transmission of disease), there has thus far been little focus on the consequences of social disruption during reintroductions. Here we investigate if moving familiar social groups may help a threatened species to adjust to its new environment and increase post‐release survival. For a reintroduction of 40 juvenile hihi Notiomystis cincta (a threatened New Zealand passerine), we observed social groups before and after translocation to a new site and used social network analysis to study three levels of social change: overall group structure, network associations and individual sociality. We also tested alternate translocation strategies where birds were kept temporarily in aviaries in either a familiar group, or where their prior association was mixed. Although social structure remained similar among juveniles that remained at the source site, we detected significant changes in translocated birds at both the group‐ and individual‐ level post‐release. However, our holding treatments did not affect these social bonds so we remain unable to maintain or manipulate social groups during translocation. Crucially, there was a small tendency for translocated juveniles that gained more associates during re‐assortment of social groups to be more likely to survive their first year post‐release. We suggest that prior sociality may not be important during translocations, but rather individuals that are most able to adapt and form associations at a new site are most likely to be the surviving founders of reintroduced populations. Abstract : Reintroductions are essential to many conservation programmes, but disrupt both abiotic and social environments. During a reintroduction of a threatened New Zealand passerine (hihi, Notiomystis cincta ), we investigated if moving familiar social groups helps a new population adjust to their post‐release environment and increase survival. Using social network analysis, we show that social structure remained similar in birds left at the source site, but we detected significant social changes in translocated birds post‐release and did not improve social cohesion by keeping familiar birds temporarily in aviaries. There was a small tendency for translocated juveniles that gained more associates during social group re‐assortment to survive better in their first year post‐release; thus, individuals that are most able to adapt and form associations at a new site may be most likely to be the surviving founders of reintroduced populations.