For the Birds: Ontario Conservation Easement

Birds often find humans to be rather undesirable neighbors. In the last three columns, I wrote about the decline of some grassland birds and some efforts to stop the decline. One of the most effective conservation tools that environmental managers have at their disposal is habitat protection. In Maine, remaining grasslands like the Kennebunk Plains and the Wells Barren are now protected, thanks to the work of The Nature Conservancy and other organizations.

But grasslands are not the only habitats we should be worried about. The notion that we have enough forest in Maine and elsewhere at northern latitudes is shortsighted. We know that highly fragmented forests may not be acceptable habitat for a number of breeding birds. Species like Barred Owl, Ovenbird and Scarlet Tanager seek nesting territories within large tracts of unfragmented forest. Highly fragmented forests simply will not do.

The government of the province of Ontario recently announced some great news for conservation, including a great boon for birds that breed in the boreal forest. The Premier, Dalton McGuinty, proudly revealed that the Ontario Government will protect at least half of Ontario’s boreal forest. The protected area will include 86,900 square miles of boreal forest. That area is nearly three times the size of Maine! Corridors between large areas of forest help to minimize the effects of forest fragmentation as unprotected areas are developed and altered.

The decision was primarily impelled by a letter sent to the Canadian government on behalf of over 1500 scientists worldwide, who strongly recommended that 50% of Canada’s boreal forest be protected. These scientists identified the 1.4 billion acre Canadian boreal forest as one of the largest intact forest and wetland ecosystems remaining on earth.

The boreal region is one of the last truly wild spaces on earth. It is home to over 200 sensitive species of animals, such as polar bears, wolverines and caribou. Many of these species are threatened or endangered. The protection of this area will be a huge step in preventing a decline in the biodiversity of the region.

Preserving large tracts of this boreal region is necessary because of increasing pressure from corporate logging and mining concerns. Oil and gas operations represent threats to the habitat as well.

Over 300 species of birds are found in the boreal forests of North America. This forest ecosystem provides breeding habitat for over 40% of the population of 21 warbler species. Nearly 100 species of birds have the majority of their population in the boreal forest during the summer. Ontario’s landmark decision is reason to cheer for all birders.

The protection of this large tract of forest will help combat global warming. The absorption of carbon dioxide by the boreal forest trees is a significant carbon sink.

Altruism

Altruism is the term that biologists use to describe selfless behavior. Although examples of altruism abound for humans, biologists are skeptical of claims of altruistic behavior in other species. After all, much of the behavior of an organism can be understood in trying to reproduce and hence perpetuate one’s genes. Helping other organisms at one’s own expense is hardly the way to get your genes into the next generation.

Some animal behaviorists think that selfless behavior can be worthwhile as long as it is reciprocal. Two organisms might strike a bargain where each agrees to share food if the other is unable to find food. This reciprocal altruism seems like a win-win situation, right? The problem is that cheaters win. I might be more than happy to eat some of your food when I have none but I may selfishly choose not to share when I have food and you do not.

Some recent work on Pied Flycatchers, a species found in Eurasia, has shed some light on how cheaters in system of reciprocal altruism might be punished. Pied Flycatchers will mob a predator, jointly assaulting the predator to drive it away. When a predator is seen, a Pied Flycatcher will give an alarm call to attract other Pied Flycatchers to join the mob. Cooperation usually results in the predator being chased away.

However, some Pied Flycatchers are cheaters. They may not respond to an alarm call and help mob the predator. Experiments done in the field showed that when a Pied Flycatcher that did not help mob a predator sees another predator and gives the alarm call, the birds that mobbed the first predator refuse to help the cheater. It’s a case of “You didn’t help us mob earlier so we are not going to help you now – good luck chasing away that hawk on your own”. So, this study has identified a case of reciprocal altruism where cheaters do not prosper.

[Originally published on August 9, 2008]