ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET: CONSERVATION OF A
MICROENDEMIC ENDANGERED SPECIES
by
LESLIE EILEEN RUYLE
(Under the Direction of John C. Maerz)

ABSTRACT
Effective conservation of endangered wildlife requires a multi-disciplinary
understanding of issues. Ecological knowledge of species combined with the effects of
human activities on those species should be applied when developing conservation
programs. Conservation efforts need to be evaluated for their effectiveness in meeting
both ecological and social requirements for protection of species and impacts on local
human populations. My dissertation sought to contribute to conservation efforts of
Central America iguanas by using traditional ecological studies for foundational
knowledge of a critically endangered species, Ctenosaura melanosterna, and examining
the impact of humans living with that species. Additionally, I evaluated iguana farming
as a conservation strategy meant to benefit local populations as well as protect iguanas.
Specifically, I examined four different sites of varying degrees of human activities and
the impact of those activities on C. melanosterna in regards to tick loads, tail loss
frequency, behavior and density. Tick loads were correlated to ctenosaur density and tail
loss frequency was correlated to presence of domestic animals. Behaviors changed to be
bolder with human presence and densities of ctenosaurs were highest at sites with
humans, but no domestic animals. We found human impacts depend on availability of
food subsidies as well as presence of domestic animals. We provide a study on the
growth and survival of C. melanosterna that will serve as a baseline for the species in
monitoring programs. We also conducted a population viability analysis that suggested
the species may be in decline despite conservation protection. Finally, we evaluate a
conservation strategy aimed at providing alternative income, an inexpensive protein
source, and alleviation of hunting pressures on wild iguanid populations. We found little
evidence that this strategy is meeting any of the proposed goals and may in fact be
detrimental to conservation goals. We argue that farms may actually work against
conservation by encouraging animals to be sold into the pet trade, and possibly putting
wild populations in danger from release of farm animals that may carry parasites or
disease because they were brought in as stock from other areas or as a consequence of
farming practices.