title: Case study of building of conservation coalitions to conserve ecological interactions.
abstract: We engaged experts in various fields of study (pollination ecology, chemical ecology, and ethnobotany), invited community participation, and provided environmental education in an effort to conserve an endangered birthwort (Aristolochia delavayi) and a vulnerable pipevine swallowtail (Byasa daemonius). Scientists studied the uptake and sequestration of the secondary metabolites aristolochic acids from A. delavayi leaves by different stages of pipevine swallowtail as a defense mechanism; low fruit set of the myophilous A. delavayi due to pollinator limitation; and the emission of chemical signals that attract parasitic wasps by the prepupae of B. daemonius. The results of these studies were part of an education program delivered by personnel of non-governmental organizations. The program was devised to deliver information to the public about the health risks of consuming A. delavayi individuals (aristolochic-acid-associated cancers) and to establish a bridge between the public and scientific research. Following delivery of the program, the behavior of residents changed considerably. Community residents were involved in management activities, including participation in a program to promote understanding of ecological interactions between A. delavayi and B. daemonius; designing an in situ conservation site; monitoring A. delavayi and B. daemonius individuals; and promoting the natural fruit set of A. delavayi by scattering animal excrement to attract fly pollinators. The integration of scientific information and community participation appears to have resulted in an increase in abundance of threatened A. delavayi and B. daemonius populations. We believe the involvement of local people in conservation is necessary for successful species conservation.
authors.affiliation: Kunming Botanical Garden, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China.
authors.forename: Shihong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Kunming Association of Environmental Protection and Public Education, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Nianshu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: Partnerships for Community Development, Chi Wo Commercial Building, 20 Saigon Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Dingfang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Kunming Botanical Garden, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Weibang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030022:Aristolochia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002080:Butterflies / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China; D003256:Community Participation; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D056727:Endangered Species; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054817:Pollination
keywords: Aristolochia delavayi; Byasa daemonius; NGOs; ONGs; aristolochic acid; conservación in situ; educación ambiental; environmental education; in situ conservation; polinización; pollination; ácido aristolóquico