Question

Scientists and conservationists are concerned that, due to new and growing threats, particularly associated with climate change, many species may soon be unable to persist in the habitats in which they currently occur. This has caused some to argue in favor of "assisted migration", whereby individuals of a species are moved from their native habitat into a new location that is highly suitable for them, but in which they had not previously been present. For example, the white lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides) is a small marsupial that lives mountains of Queensland, Australia where it feeds on the young leaves of a handful of tree species. It can only live at elevations above 1,000 m because it cannot tolerate temperatures above 30C for even a few hours. The population of white possums (which may be a white color variant of the more common lemuroid ringtail possum – not a separate species) nearly disappeared after a heat wave in 2005, dropping from thousands of individuals to only 4 or 5 sightings during surveys conducted in 2014.

                Climate change models predict temperature increases in the Mount Carbine Tablelands of Queensland where the white lemuroid population lives. If temperatures change as predicted, the possums are very likely to go extinct. This situation makes the possum a potential candidate for transplant to other areas with suitable forested areas that are less vulnerable to temperature change. However, doing so has implications for the species, the donor and recipient ecosystems, and social, cultural, and economic aspects of conservation efforts. As a result, assisted migration is a controversial topic in conservation biology. Considering the potential benefits and shortcomings of assisted migration, answer the following questions about this proposed conservation tool.

The ethical implications of assisted migration have the potential to affect multiple parties. Which of the following entities is least likely to be affected by a decision to implement assisted migration?

a)	Ecotourism companies that operate in the destination habitat.

b)	Government agencies that manage the forests and natural resources of the destination habitat.

c)	Ranchers and farmers that depend on clean water from the watersheds containing the destination habitat.

d)	The population of white possums.

e)	Non-profit organizations that promote wildlife conservation in the area.

Answer 1

e. Non-profit organizations that promote wildlife conservation in the area.

The main criteria for such non-profit organizations is conservation. When already the decision of assisted migration has been taken by the government agencies, they will more than happy to conserve the species of possums. So these will be least affected.

Possums will be affected because they are the migrants.

Farers will be affected as they will be checked and there will be a lot of restrictions for them.

Government agencies would be affected as they have to chalk out the whole process.

Ecotourism companies will be affected as now that particular area would not be easily accessible for the general public.