What is Wildlife Science - Lecture Notes | ESRM 201, Study notes of Environmental Science

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What is Wildlife Science?

ESRM 201 Sustaining Pacific Northwest Ecosystems

Washington’s Definition of Wildlife „

By Washington Administrative Code (WAC 222-16-010):

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"Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom whose members exist in Washington in a wild state. Theterm "wildlife" includes, but is not limited to, anymammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate, atany stage of development. The term "wildlife" does notinclude feral domestic mammals or the family Muridae ofthe order Rodentia (old world rats and mice).

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Wildlife are owned by the people of Washington Stateand managed by the Washington Department of Fish &Wildlife (http://wdfw.wa.gov/)

Current Scope of Wildlife Ecology or Science „

Concerned with basic biology and ecology of nativespecies

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Concerned with their conservation and when necessarytheir preservation

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Concerned with the management (positive & negative) ofexotic species

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Concerned with public attitudes toward wildlife andpublic policies that affect them „

Shift from utilitarian attitude associated with urbanization

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Public understanding of science and science-based management

Changing Attitudes and Public Policy „

Current state of forest management in the PacificNorthwest probably inconceivable only 50 years ago

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Concern over fate of late successional wildlife species(owls, murrelets) has essentially shut down timber harveston federal lands

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Reflects an increasing environmental awareness by thepublic and the attitudes of an increasingly urbanpopulation

Consequences for Wildlife „

Conversion of late to early successional landscapes—many industrial lands managed on 55-yr or less rotations

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Early successional species that were found primarily inareas of forest disturbance and riparian zones nowcommon throughout the landscape

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The management prescription greatly favors deer, elk,hares and rabbits, quail, grouse, large populations of fieldrodents, and their predators.

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Concern began to grow over the well being of latesuccessional species and the full complement of nativespecies

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Maintenance of native biodiversity a current goal

Regional Diversity Ethic „

All species not created equal

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Ranking species desirability—a function of naturalhistory and societal values „

Locally common species vs. regionally common species

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Threatened and endangered species

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Native vs. exotic game species

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Non-game exotic species

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Rare endemic species

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Regionally common species

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Pets

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Local vs. regional faunal responsibility: a potentialtragedy of the commons

Functions of Wildlife Within Forests^ „

May be positive from a plant viewpoint: „

Increased pollination and germination

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Dispersal of seeds (esp. fruiting plants) and fungal spores(hypogeous vs. epigeous fungi)

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Mycorrhizal associations of woody plants

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Role in increased nutrient recycling

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Role in soil turnover and aeration

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Moderator of plant-plant competitive effects—differentialherbivory; positive effect for the plant that is not eaten

Functions of Wildlife Within Forests

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May be negative from a plant viewpoint: „

Herbivory may be intense (defoliator outbreaks, bark girdlingby porcupines and voles, grazing lawns formed by elk)

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May alter course and timing of forest succession—forestswithout herbivores show very different species composition andstructure (exclosure experiments.)

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Ungulates and bears can damage or kill trees by antler thrashingand debarking

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Soil turnover and herbivory may arrest forest succession fordecades (gophers and voles)

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Bark probing and cavity excavation may lead to fungal infectionand tree death (beetles, birds)

Approaches to Management „

Single species management occurs at the population level;management of individuals generally indicatesmanagement failure „

Management is indirect, focused on resources needed by thepopulation

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Resources are provided for population growth or stability overtime

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Resources are removed for population declines

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To provide critical resources, one must know naturalhistory

Approaches to Management „

Multiple species management occurs at a landscape scaleby providing suitable habitats at appropriate spatial andtemporal scales „

Must decide which species to manage for or against

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Must know species/habitat relationships to predict occupancy

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Must know species/area requirements for sensitive area species

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Must know dispersal capabilities of species

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This is a regional biodiversity approach—managinglandscapes over space and through time.

Factors of Change in Abundance

Abundance

Birth Death

Emigration

Immigration

Terms Related to Habitat „

Habitat:

An area with the combination of resources and

environmental conditions that promotes occupancy byindividuals of a given species and allows thoseindividuals to survive and reproduce.

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Habitat Sink:

A habitat incapable of supporting a

reproductively active population.

What Habitat Elements to Provide? „

Deceptively simple: Shelter, food, and water

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Diverse needs for diverse species: „

Rodents—cover objects, litter layer, forage plants

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Shrews—cover objects, invertebrate prey

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Bats—old, large trees, snags, nocturnal flying insects

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Song birds—nesting sites (tree, shrub, ground), invertebrateprey, seeds, fruits

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Cavity-nesting birds (1° or 2 °)—snags and bark insects

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Amphibians—standing or flowing water, inverts, cover

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Hawks and Owls—small birds and mammals, roosting trees

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Reptiles—inverts, small bird and mammal prey, cover

Structural Diversity Within Forests: Logs

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Protection from physicalenvironment

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Protection from predators

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Food sources

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Lookout structures

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Display structures

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Travel routes