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Natural Resources
Wildlife Ecology
KEYSTONE SPECIES
• A species in the environment that has a disproportionate impact relative to its abundance in the ecosystem
• Usually predators but could be a common prey species
• Example: – Prey: - Rabbits– Predator: - Wolves– Beavers: - Modify habitat
Example
• What happens when a family of beavers dams a creek?
• What habitat changes take place?
• What species can no longer survive there?
• What species might migrate in?
Wildlife Management
• Reductionist – concentrates on management and research of single populations
• Holistic – concentrates on management of the entire ecosystem
Ecological Scale
• Individual Organisms
• Populations– Group of interbreeding individuals of the same
species
• Communities– Interacting Populations of different species
• Ecosystem– Living and non-living factors in a given area
Holistic Management
• All organisms within an ecosystem are interdependent on the other organisms and species for their existence
• Example:– When wolves are present in Yellowstone
Park, the abundance and diversity of songbirds increases. Why?
Ripple Effect
• Each organism has a niche in its environment
• When the role is not fulfilled, there are repercussions & adjustments throughout the ecosystem
Yellowstone Study
• When wolves are present, moose and elk do not graze in the streams and streambanks
• When moose don’t graze on streambanks, the plant diversity and abundance increases
• When the plant diversity and abundance increases, the bird habitat is improved
• When the bird habitat is improved, the abundance and diversity of songbirds increases
Over Population Problems
• Suburban areas have severe over-population of White-tailed deer
• Nuisance to home-owners
• Danger to drivers
• Risk of disease & damage
• Hunting is not an option
Non-lethal control
• Strategy A. Identify, evaluate and use effective non-lethal deer management techniques.
• Non-lethally in suburban habitats. – Those designed to manage herd size, such as fertility
controls; – Those intended to control movement or other
behavior, such as fencing and repellents.
• Where traditional methods are not practical or desirable.
• Deer fertility control is being studied
Lethal Control
• Strategy B. Identify, evaluate and use effective lethal deer management techniques.
• Currently, lethal control is the only viable means to control deer populations on the large scale.
• Regulated hunting will remain a cornerstone of deer population control effort
• Use of sharpshooters and trap and euthanize efforts
Special Harvest Practices
• Quota Hunts – Pre-apply to hunt in areas with too many hunters for the animal population
• Managed Hunts – Hunting in usually restricted areas to reduce the population. Must pre-apply and be selected – may have to attend training
• Earn a Buck (EAB) – In over-populated counties