Are tourism and conservation compatible for ‘island tame’ species?

摘要: Islands play an important conservation role due to high rates of speciation as well providing a predator-free refuge environment for species that are vulnerable terrestrial predation on the mainland. Many animals show marked 'island tameness' islands, reducing costly escape responses in absence threat. Island tameness also translates altered toward humans, making many island attractive wildlife tourism. We explored temporal and spatial differences behavioral Rottnest quokka Setonix brachyurus. This marsupial is excellent test effects ecotourism, being significance (IUCN-listed vulnerable). Comparing n = 339 individuals tourism low seasons, quokkas at sites allowed person approach closer before moving away compared with non-tourisms sites, two-thirds around within 1 m (compared 14% non-tourism sites). For 67 ad hoc interactions tourists, would only move from interaction tourist when group was noisy or there attempt touch animal. Time budgets (n 379 individuals) showed spent more time behavior locomotion, but less vigilance feeding sites. Understanding impact ecotourism animal will help frame management actions ensure persistence threatened species. propose two models describing ecotourism: separation according temperament adjustment learned habituation. These not mutually exclusive we suggest both habitation likely evident quokkas. discuss implications these results protection conservation.