what is wildlife science?
DESCRIPTION
What is Wildlife Science?. Applied Ecology. ECOLOGY. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY. Population Growth Community Organization Ecosystem Organization Processes & Interactions. Threatened & Endangered species Reserve Design Restoration Habitat. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What is Wildlife Science?What is Wildlife Science?
ECOLOGYECOLOGYCONSERVATION CONSERVATION BIOLOGYBIOLOGY
WILDLIFE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT
Threatened & Endangered speciesThreatened & Endangered speciesReserve DesignReserve DesignRestorationRestorationHabitatHabitat
Population GrowthPopulation GrowthCommunity OrganizationCommunity OrganizationEcosystem OrganizationEcosystem OrganizationProcesses & InteractionsProcesses & Interactions
Increase or Decrease PopulationsIncrease or Decrease PopulationsSustainable HarvestSustainable HarvestMonitor Population StatusMonitor Population Status
Applied Applied EcologyEcology
Information Needs for Wildlife Information Needs for Wildlife ConservationConservation
Habitat requirementsHabitat requirements Assessment of past and current Assessment of past and current
populationspopulations Growth or decline?Growth or decline?
Major limiting factorsMajor limiting factors Ability to survive, reproduce and disperseAbility to survive, reproduce and disperse
How to manage the population(s)?How to manage the population(s)? Habitat protectionHabitat protection Captive breedingCaptive breeding Legal protectionLegal protection
Examples of Success in Wildlife Examples of Success in Wildlife ConservationConservation
American BisonAmerican Bison From the surviving 150From the surviving 150
individuals, there are individuals, there are now over 30,000 bison now over 30,000 bison in many different herdsin many different herds
Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present
Examples of Success in Examples of Success in Wildlife ConservationWildlife Conservation
White-tailed (E. U.S.) and mule White-tailed (E. U.S.) and mule deer (W. of Cascades to deer (W. of Cascades to Dakotas)Dakotas)
Suffered from loss of habitat Suffered from loss of habitat and and overharvestingoverharvesting
Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present
Habitat restoration Habitat restoration and better and better protection resulted protection resulted in many recovered in many recovered populations and populations and even even over-over-population population in in placesplaces
Examples of Success in Wildlife Examples of Success in Wildlife ConservationConservation
Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present
Elk (wapiti)Elk (wapiti) Suffered from Suffered from
over-harvesting over-harvesting and loss of habitatand loss of habitat
Habitat Habitat restoration & restoration & better protection better protection have led to many have led to many recovered recovered populationspopulations
Examples of Success in Wildlife Examples of Success in Wildlife ConservationConservation
Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present
Gray wolfGray wolf Persecuted for centuries, Persecuted for centuries,
ongoing in some placesongoing in some places Change of attitudes has Change of attitudes has
made restoration efforts made restoration efforts possible (e.g. Yellowstone possible (e.g. Yellowstone NP)NP)
Still controversial Still controversial species, especially with species, especially with respect to ranchingrespect to ranching
Today:Today:Human Relationships with Human Relationships with
WildlifeWildlife
Permanent settlements, transportation Permanent settlements, transportation dramatically change where wildlife can dramatically change where wildlife can survivesurvive
Humans move around a lot of species to Humans move around a lot of species to areas they were never found before areas they were never found before
Technological advances – allow us to Technological advances – allow us to harvest more wildlifeharvest more wildlife
Pollution from human activities directly and Pollution from human activities directly and indirectly (climate change) influences indirectly (climate change) influences wildlifewildlife
Today:Today:Human Relationships with Human Relationships with
WildlifeWildlife
In other words . . .In other words . . . Habitat degradation, loss and Habitat degradation, loss and
fragmentationfragmentation Biological invasionsBiological invasions OverexploitationOverexploitation Climate changeClimate change
Why does it matter?Why does it matter? Between a quarter and a third of the Between a quarter and a third of the
world's wildlife has been lost since world's wildlife has been lost since 1970 1970 (Zoological Society of London) (Zoological Society of London)
Wildlife has value for humansWildlife has value for humans Economic Economic RecreationalRecreational Intrinsic Intrinsic
Human Attitudes Toward Human Attitudes Toward WildlifeWildlife
• ScientificScientific: curiosity, study, knowledge: curiosity, study, knowledge• EcologicalEcological: ecosystem, species : ecosystem, species
interdependenceinterdependence• NaturalisticNaturalistic: wildlife exposure, contact : wildlife exposure, contact
with naturewith nature• HumanisticHumanistic: pets, love for animals: pets, love for animals• MoralisticMoralistic: ethical concern for animal : ethical concern for animal
welfarewelfare• AestheticAesthetic: artistic and display: artistic and display• UtilitarianUtilitarian: practicality, usefulness: practicality, usefulness• DominionisticDominionistic: mastery, superiority: mastery, superiority• NegativisticNegativistic: avoidance, dislike, : avoidance, dislike,
indifference, fearindifference, fear
Different Views of WildlifeDifferent Views of Wildlife
Wildlife means Wildlife means different things to different things to different people:different people:•Traditional view: Traditional view:
Species that are Species that are hunted or hunted or trappedtrapped
•In last 25 years: In last 25 years: AllAll species species
Historical perspectives: Historical perspectives: HuntingHunting
Subsistence hunting - 1.8 million Subsistence hunting - 1.8 million yearsyears ProteinProtein Bone for implementsBone for implements Sinew for cordageSinew for cordage Fur and feathers for warmth Fur and feathers for warmth and ornamentand ornament Rawhide and leather for clothing Rawhide and leather for clothing and shelterand shelter
Historical perspectives: Historical perspectives: HuntingHunting
Early Early colonistscolonists Access to Access to
land in New land in New World World
Tradition Tradition establishedestablished
““Birth right”Birth right” Percentage Percentage
of hunters of hunters declined declined since 1960ssince 1960s
Hunting vs. No Hunting Hunting vs. No Hunting ControversyControversy
HuntersHunters Hunt legal game species by trapping or Hunt legal game species by trapping or
shootingshooting Non-huntersNon-hunters
Do not hunt or trap, but do not oppose or Do not hunt or trap, but do not oppose or interrupt those that dointerrupt those that do
Anti-huntersAnti-hunters Do not hunt or trap, but do oppose and Do not hunt or trap, but do oppose and
try to disrupt huntingtry to disrupt hunting
Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Conservation PhilosophiesConservation Philosophies
Animal RightsAnimal Rights Humans should cause no pain, Humans should cause no pain,
suffering or death to sentient animalssuffering or death to sentient animals Animals should be treated with same Animals should be treated with same
ethical standards as humansethical standards as humans Rights of individual animals of primary Rights of individual animals of primary
importance; integrity of ecology and importance; integrity of ecology and populations, other concerns secondarypopulations, other concerns secondary
Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Conservation PhilosophiesConservation Philosophies
Aldo Leopold’s Land EthicAldo Leopold’s Land Ethic ““A thing is right if it tends to A thing is right if it tends to
preserve the integrity, stability and preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends to do is wrong when it tends to do otherwise.” (1949 otherwise.” (1949 A Sand County A Sand County AlmanacAlmanac))
Hunting is permissibleHunting is permissible
Hunting termsHunting terms HarvestHarvest
Game legally shot and retrieved (“bagged”)Game legally shot and retrieved (“bagged”) Bag limitBag limit
Max. number of legally taken game animals Max. number of legally taken game animals (daily, possession, season limits)(daily, possession, season limits)
SurplusSurplus Proportion of population in excess of the Proportion of population in excess of the
number of breeders required to maintain the number of breeders required to maintain the population at a desired levelpopulation at a desired level
PoachingPoaching Illegal take or possession of animalsIllegal take or possession of animals
Closed season, closed area, illegal methods, Closed season, closed area, illegal methods, threatened and endangered species, age/sex of animalthreatened and endangered species, age/sex of animal
Go Hunt:Go Hunt: http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/gohunt/index.hthttp://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/gohunt/index.ht
mlml
Hunting areas of Washington
The premise behind game The premise behind game harvestharvest
Without harvestWithout harvest Growth and recruitment of population are Growth and recruitment of population are
balanced by natural mortalitybalanced by natural mortality Average growth rate of a population at its Average growth rate of a population at its
carrying capacity (k) = 0carrying capacity (k) = 0 HarvestHarvest
Reduces number of animals in a populationReduces number of animals in a population Increases growth rate (decreased Increases growth rate (decreased
competition)competition) Results in “harvestable surplus”Results in “harvestable surplus”
Annual surplus: without harvest
DeathsBirths =
Compensatory mortality: with harvest
Births = +
Game species of WAGame species of WA Big gameBig game
Deer, Elk, Black BearDeer, Elk, Black Bear
Game species of WAGame species of WA PredatorsPredators
Cougar, CoyoteCougar, Coyote
Game species of WAGame species of WA Small GameSmall Game
Cottontail, Snowshoe HareCottontail, Snowshoe Hare
FurbearersFurbearers Ex. Red Fox, Mink, Beaver, Marten, Badger, Bobcat, Ex. Red Fox, Mink, Beaver, Marten, Badger, Bobcat,
LynxLynx
Game species of WAGame species of WA Upland game birdsUpland game birds
Ex. Blue (now Dusky), Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Ring-Ex. Blue (now Dusky), Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California and Mountain necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California and Mountain QuailQuail
WaterfowlWaterfowl Ducks, Coots, Snipe, GeeseDucks, Coots, Snipe, Geese
Examples of hunted Examples of hunted speciesspecies
White-tailed deerWhite-tailed deer Population Population
extremely high extremely high through much through much of its of its rangerange
Recent declines Recent declines due to Chronic due to Chronic Wasting Wasting Disease (CWD)Disease (CWD)
Examples of hunted Examples of hunted speciesspecies
Mule deerMule deer Primary deer Primary deer
species in Rocky species in Rocky Mountain statesMountain states
Populations Populations fluctuate but fluctuate but most are healthymost are healthy
Examples of hunted Examples of hunted speciesspecies
Black-tailed deerBlack-tailed deer Coastal form of mule deerCoastal form of mule deer HybridizeHybridize with mule deer in North with mule deer in North
CascadesCascades Populations mostly stable but may Populations mostly stable but may
suffer from overlap with elk in part suffer from overlap with elk in part of rangeof range
Factors important to Factors important to successful game successful game
managementmanagement Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly
increasingincreasing Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and
conservationconservation Educate public (Peterson 2004)Educate public (Peterson 2004)
What do we actually do to What do we actually do to have successful game have successful game
management?management? Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly
increasingincreasing Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and
conservationconservation Educate public (Peterson 2004)Educate public (Peterson 2004)
Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly increasingincreasing
Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and
conservationconservation Educate public (Peterson 2004)Educate public (Peterson 2004)
What do we actually do What do we actually do to have successful game to have successful game
management?management?
Chronic Wasting DiseaseChronic Wasting Disease
Signs:
Slobbering
Tremors
Low appetite
Reduced coordination
Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly increasingincreasing
Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and
conservationconservation Educate public (Peterson 2004)Educate public (Peterson 2004)
What do we actually do What do we actually do to have successful game to have successful game
management?management?
What do we actually do to What do we actually do to have successful game have successful game
management?management? Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly
increasingincreasing Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and
conservationconservation Educate public (Peterson 2004)Educate public (Peterson 2004)
Examples of hunted Examples of hunted speciesspecies
American WoodcockAmerican Woodcock Forest-dwelling shorebirdForest-dwelling shorebird Population stable in most of rangePopulation stable in most of range
“The woodcock is a living refutation of the theory that the utility of a game bird is to serve as a target, or to pose gracefully on a slice of toast. No one would rather hunt woodcock in October than I, but since learning of the sky dance I find myself calling one or two birds enough. I must be sure that, come April, there be no dearth of dancers in the sunset sky.”(Leopold, p. 34)
“The woodcock is a living refutation of the theory that the utility of a game bird is to serve as a target, or to pose gracefully on a slice of toast. No one would rather hunt woodcock in October than I, but since learning of the sky dance I find myself calling one or two birds enough. I must be sure that, come April, there be no dearth of dancers in the sunset sky.”(Leopold, p. 34)
Examples of hunted Examples of hunted speciesspecies
How many waterfowl are there?How many waterfowl are there? Declines in the 1980sDeclines in the 1980s Recovery 1990s – fall flight 105 millionRecovery 1990s – fall flight 105 millionNorth American goose population: 6-8 millionNorth American goose population: 6-8 millionHunting harvestsHunting harvests 10-20 million ducks/year10-20 million ducks/year 1-2 million geese/year1-2 million geese/year
Waterfowl annual cycleWaterfowl annual cycle
How harvest levels are How harvest levels are obtainedobtained
Benefits of huntingBenefits of hunting Deepens appreciation and Deepens appreciation and
understanding of land and its wildlifeunderstanding of land and its wildlife Hunting organizations contribute Hunting organizations contribute
millions of dollars and volunteer time millions of dollars and volunteer time to conservation causesto conservation causes
Hunting important tool for wildlife Hunting important tool for wildlife management to prevent negative management to prevent negative aspects of overpopulated speciesaspects of overpopulated species
Hunting recapHunting recap Hunting is traditionalHunting is traditional Can take the place of natural Can take the place of natural
predation in some placespredation in some places Hunting is regulatedHunting is regulated
In recent history of N. America, no In recent history of N. America, no game species has become threatened or game species has become threatened or endangered because of overharvestingendangered because of overharvesting
More Information on More Information on HuntingHunting
•U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/huntinghttp://www.fws.gov/hunting
•Washington Department of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:Fish and Wildlife: http://wdfw.wa.govhttp://wdfw.wa.gov