Reintroduction of animal and plant species extinct from Israel

V.3. Reintroduction of animal and plant species extinct from Israel

V.3.1. Reintroduction of Dama dama mesopotamica (Persian Fallow Deer).
V.3.2. Reintroduction of Haliaeetus albicilia (White-Tailed Eagle)
V.3.3. Reintroduction of selected species and ornamental plants

V.3.1. Reintroduction of Dama dama mesopotamica (Persian Fallow Deer).

Dama dama mesopotamica (Persian Fallow Deer) is an attractive, endangered species that was to be found in Israel until the start of the 20th century. The largest herd in the world is currently in the Hai Bar Carmel Nature Reserve, close to the City of Haifa, in Israel. This herd of 140 head is concentrated in a small area, which increases the possibility of disease. Part of the herd is being transferred to the Nahal Kziv Nature Reserve in Northern Israel, but an additional breeding place, especially a wet one similar to their original habitat, is essential to ensure species survival. A breeding herd of Dama dama mesopotamica was therefore transferred to the Hula Valley.

Three male Fallow Deer were released (July, 1997) on an island in the Lake Agmon, in order to find out to what extent water is an obstacle to the species, and how the animals integrate into the surrounding area of rangeland and intensive agricultural lands under free roaming conditions. The deer crossed the shallow lake without difficulty, disappeared into the surrounding area, and were not seen again.. Since deer cross watercourses easily, but can not jump when in the water and can not dive, it is proposed to construct low fences (about 40 cm above water level) to restrain the deer inside the islands.

It was decided to reintroduce the Persian Fallow Deer in a fenced area of about 3.2 ha. As one of the purposes of the project is to determine the impact of deer grazing on the native vegetation, a survey of the vegetation was conducted prior to their introduction (Table 1). Fencing was completed in June 1998 and a further three males and two females were transferred from the Hai Bar Carmel Nature Reserve on 5/7/98 and 15/10/98 to the Hula reserve. No veterinary care was conducted, to avoid human interference in the process of adaptation. At the end of 1998, the behavior of the animals was normal.

During year 1999 two additional females were introduced into the paddock, and two fawns born there have survived. Before this introduction and acclimation trial there were doubts concerning the ability of the deer to survive the cold winter, feed on natural vegetation and breed. The animals do not received any artificial feed. In view of the encouraging results of the trial, it was decided to introduce additional females to the herd to form a reproduction unit of size suited to the carrying capacity of the paddock, with the surplus released into the western slopes of the Hula Valley. The estimated caring capacity (according to extrapolations made from trials conducted on water buffalo) of the paddock is about15 adults.

Table 1: Botanical composition of the paddock under Persian Fallow Deer Grazing

Bare Soil	3.2
Water	4
Vegetation	92.8
Total cover	100
Species	%		%
Ammi visnaga	4	Hirschfeldia incana	0.2
Aster subulatus	1.4	Cynoglossum creticum	0.2
Polygonum arenastrum	0.2	Fraxinus syriaca	1
Tamarix sp.	7.5	Atriplex prostrata	0
Veronica anagalloides	0.8	Erodium malacoides	0
Echinichloa crus-galli	0.3	Mentha aquatica	1.4
Centaurea aegyptiaca	0.1	Solanum sp.	0
Verbena officinalis	0.1	Polypogon monspeliensis	2.4
Rumex conglomeratus	8	Lemna sp.	3.5
Malva nicaeensis	0.2	Kukuyo grass	0.5
Cynodon dactylon	7.6	Rubus sanctus	0.3
Amarantus retroflexus	0	Conyza canadensis	1
Chenopodium vulvaria	0.1	Paspalum paspaloides	18.2
Chenopodium ambrosoides	0.3	Cirsium sp.	0.1
Carex otrubae	0.3	Kickxia elatine	0.2
Lotus glaber	0	Polycarpon tetraphyllum	0.1
Plantago lanceolata	1.2	Hordeum glaucum	0
Plantago major	1.8	Helminthotheca echioides	0.5
Xanthium strumarium	30.8	Trifolium fragiferum	5.8
		Total cover	100

V.3.2. Reintroduction of Haliaeetus albicilia (White-Tailed Eagle)

The White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilia) is a very rare fish raptor, included in the world’s list of endangered species, which became extinct from Israel after the Hula was drained. Attempts to re-introduce it started in 1992, but no continuous routine information is available. The species is a large, attractive raptor, whose importance as an organism high in the food chain is as a bird and fish predator. Previous research has shown that the re-introduction of the White-Tailed Eagle is feasible. Re-introduction was conducted as follows:

Three-week-old nestling were placed in an artificial nest within a cage. After four weeks the young eagles were released. Each bird was fitted with a radio transmitter, and a receiver purchased for radio telemeter monitoring. Twelve birds have been released so far, five of which currently live in the area. Radio transmitter was attached to each bird. The following parameters have been analyzed: time budgeting, hunting areas, diet composition and nesting behavior (Table 2).

In 1999 one eagle couple built its nest in the area, but did not produced chicks. In 2000, another active nest is being monitored.

Table 2: Re-introduction of White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilia) in the Hula Valley
* Data analyzed by telemetric radio frequency and date of observation.

Radio transmitter frequency of each bird	No. of observations	First observation	Last observation
150.014	1	13/01/98	13/01/98
150.038	1	19/06/98	19/06/98
150.064	1	24/02/98	24/02/98
150.073	1	13/08/98	13/08/98
150.076	1	13/08/98	13/08/98
150.024	2	17/07/98	13/08/98
150.026	2	15/05/98	19/06/98
150.034	3	14/07/98	13/08/98
150.037	3	2/4/1998	13/08/98
150.049	4	29/01/98	2/4/1998
150.025	6	29/01/98	26/04/98
150.048	7	14/07/98	2/9/1998
Total radio transmitters observations	32
Unidentified observations	38	16/1	13/8
No. of identified birds on observation		12
Total no. of bird observations		70

V.3.3. Reintroduction of selected species and ornamental plants

Nymphaea alba

The reintroduction of macrophyte plays an important role in the restoration of lakes. In a brackish lake situated in Hickling Broad, Norfolk, UK, the clarity of the water was slightly improved by colonization with Myriophyllum spictum and Potamogeton pectinatus, but further restoration by other macrophytes was required (Bales et al., 1993). Potamogeton pectinatus is known to be associated with water clarity (Moss et al., 1986). In the highly eutrophic Lake Swemlust, The Netherlands, submerged macrophytes were absent. The introduction of Nuphar lutea through sowing was successful, and after two years the macrophyte population increased considerably, covering approximately 80% of the lake floor. The abundance of macrophytes greatly reduced nitrogen content, inhibiting phytoplankton growth, which resulted in constantly clear water (Van Donk, 1990). Potamogeton pectinatus and Nuphar lutea improve water quality by reducing the phosphorus level (Peltre et al., 1993) and the nitrogen level (Van Donk, 1990).

Within the program of re-introducing plants into the Agmon wetland, attention was given to submerged and emerged plants, as well as to riparian species. Special attention was given to ornamental flowers and to plants with potential sustainable green shore cover. Cyperus papyrus and Cynodon dactylon were found to be plants with sustainable potential for to stabilize the shore of the lake. Cyperus papyrus established itself rapidly from seedlings and was reintroduced immediately as the dominant riparian species, while Cynodon dactylon established itself spontaneously. Reintroduced Nymphaea alba clones were planted only in protected enclosures, to prevent grazing damage by nutria (Myocastor coypu). Nuphar lutea and Iris pseudacorus are resistant to grazing and were therefore given priority for reintroduction.

The present study also aimed to monitor the spontaneous establishment of vegetation and to study succession of plant establishment and the dynamics of reintroduction, as a basis for the re-construction of the ecosystem. Extinct native species are of great value to nature conservation, some of them being ornamental species which are also important to eco-tourism.

Iris pseudacorus

Species that inhabited the Hula Valley swamp before draining were reviewed. Special attention was given to species occurring in nearby natural habitats. Locally extinct species were obtained from private collections and universities botanical gardens. The species that were introduced were all formerly indigenous to the Hula Valley. The rehabilitation program of the vascular plant system described above is therefore a foundation for an ecosystem as close as possible to the original one. Care was taken that all species reintroduced were indigenous to the Hula Valley. Bibliographical research and personal interviews with experts were conducted, regarding the potential adaptation of the selected species to their proposed habitat. The survey of extinct species resulted in a list of 11 potential plants for re-introduction: Marsilea minuta, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton pectinatus, Utricularia australis, Nuphar lutea, Butomus umbellatus, Nymphaea alba, Ludwigia palustris, Iris pseudacorus, Cyperus papyrus and Hydrocotyle ranunculoides.

At the beginning (1997-8) all species selected for reintroduction were transferred to their new habitats under suitable conditions. The new habitats were classified according to three parameters: water depth, sediment type and grazing protection from Myocastor coypu. Delicate species, such as Myriophyllum spictum and Utricularia australis and rare species such as Nymphaea alba, of which only limited sources were available, were protected from grazing by fencing.

The enclosures, 20x20m, were fenced with wire net (holes 5X5 cm. size) 1.2 m high anchored in the ground. Cyperus papyrus was protected from water buffalo (Bubalos bubalis). The experimental area has a mineral (marl –chalk) soil. The experimental area for Cyperus papyrus consist of shallow (40 cm) pools with moderate slope and 20 cm of water. Plants were covered up to the root system and tied to fiberglass poles. Emerged species such as Myriophyllum spictum and Hydrocotyle ranunculoides were put in water surrounded by additional plastic net.

Reintroduced Cyperus papyrus plants were planted in three locations:

a. Experimental shallow peat pond with water depths of 20-0 cm.
b. Southern shore of Lake Agmon shore on mineral calcareous sediment.
c. Western shore of Lake Agmon on peat sediment.

In each location the height and number of flowering stems of 10 representative plants were recorded. First year results indicated that, from the 11 potential plants for re-introduction, four species (Marsilea minuta, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton pectinatus, Utricularia australis) were unsuccessful, two species (Nuphar lutea (fig. 1), Butomus umbellatus) partially survived, and the other five species (Nymphaea alba (fig. 2), Ludwigia palustris, Iris pseudacorus (fig. 3), Cyperus papyrus (fig. 4), Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) flourished.

fig1

Most species did better in areas protected from grazing, while some species (Nymphaea alba (Fig. 2), Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, and Nuphar lutea (Fig. 1)) succeeded only in these enclosures. Peat soil was found to be advantageous for Marsilea minuta and Cyperus papyrus (Fig. 4), while Nymphaea alba (Fig. 2) preferred mineral soil.

On 26th July, 1998 a planting operation was carried out with volunteer support. Fenced plots to protect the plants from Myocastor coypu were constructed. The purpose was to enhance plant cover in Lake Agmon. Five hundreds seedlings of Cyperus papyrus and 500 of Typha domingensis and about 100 seedlings of Typha latifolia were planted in two strips of 30-m wide and 800 m long in shallow lake water (20 to 40 cm).

The results were as follows: under fencing protection about 80% of Cyperus papyrus plants survived, but without protection close to zero. However, spontaneous establishment on the shoreline without protection has been very successful. As for Typha latifolia, 90% success was achieved in both protected and unprotected treatments. To enhance the spontaneous establishment of Typha domingensis, the water level was lowered and this operation increased spontaneous germination and establishment of this species.

This was reflected in the vegetation map based on a aerial photo and land survey (Picture 12). Survival of Typha domingensis was about 80% with protection and close to zero without. The conclusion is that Cyperus papyrus and Typha domingensis are vulnerable to nutria (Myocastor coypu) grazing in the lake area, unlike Typha latifolia. Shoreline strips of Cyperus papyrus proved resistant to grazing. It is also evident that lowering the water level contributes to the germination and establishment of Typha latifolia and this reason and the effect of nutria grazing are the most prominent factors affecting Typha domingensis survival.

Implementing results of the rehabilitation program of 1997-1998 in 1999-2000

According to the survey results, four species (Marsilea minuta, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton pectinatus, Utricularia australis) were unsuccessful, two species (Nuphar lutea, Butomus umbellatus) partially survived, and the other five (Nymphaea alba, Ludwigia palustris, Iris pseudacorus, Cyperus papyrus, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) flourished. These results guided the implementation of the program to increase the re-introduction of ornamental plants.

A nursery of aquatic ornamental plants was founded in 1999 with the aim of providing material for the re-introduction of the above species. The work is in the framework of the Jewish National Found (KKL) nursery. The first step was a experimental program of Cyperus papyrus seed collection and nursery seedling breeding. Afterwards the following additional species were included in the nursery program: Sparganium neglectum, Cyperus alopecuroides, Myriophyllum spicatum, Nymphaea caerulea and Nymphaea alba .

Reintroduced Nymphaea alba clones was established only in protected enclosures, to protect them from the grazing of Myocastor coypu. Nuphar lutea and Iris pseudacorus, which are also very attractive species, showed impressive resilience and resistance to grazing, and were the first to reintroduction successfully to the new lake (J. Vaadia, personal communication)