Wildlife Biology and Management Chapter 9 Wildlife Biology and Management

Study of Life Basic needs of animals Food, water, shelter, and space These basic needs are of equal importance Suitable wildlife habitat requires a balance of these requirements

Animal Behaviors and Habits Life is the product of distinct behaviors Behavior is both learned and instinctive instinctive: evident at birth learned: behavior picked up through life experiences

Life Requires Energy Food Amount of food required depends on age, sex, size, location, season of year Differences exist in ways organisms obtain nutrients Herbivores: Obtain food directly from plants Carnivores: Consume other animals (predators) Omnivores: Consume both plants and other animals

Water Organisms differ in their relationship to a necessary resource: water Some require standing water Some drink water Others get water from food they eat Still others absorb water from the environment Aquatic organisms actually live in water

Shelter All organisms have basic habitat needs Habitat: Home where organism eats, rests, and reproduces Suitable habitat provides adequate shelter Shelter can take many forms

Space All organisms have a home range Area within which they live and obtain resources Size of home range varies Tolerance of others’ presence varies In any habitat, animals must not be overcrowded

Arrangement of Basic Needs Optimal populations achieved when basic needs are appropriately arranged What if primary food supply is across a four-lane highway?

Wildlife Relationships Many organisms participate in many types of relationships parasitism mutualism Predation (important in controlling population) commensalism competition

Predation Populations of predators and prey tend to fluctuate widely When predators are in abundance, prey becomes scarce because of overfeeding When prey becomes scarce, predators may starve or move to other areas

Preserving Wildlife Various efforts have been made to protect wildlife U.S. Endangered Species Act passed to protect at-risk animal species and their habitats

Preserving Wildlife U.S. Endangered Species Act identifies two classes of at-risk species endangered: immediate danger of extinction threatened: at risk of becoming endangered Strategies include transplanting organisms, hatcheries, breeding programs

Human Impacts on Wildlife Humans impact wildlife in many ways Habitat destruction is the single greatest threat facing wildlife Habitat destruction occurs as a result of many human activities Construction, farming, mining, timber harvesting, and pollution

Stewardship Wildlife and other natural resources should be managed with a long-term view and commitment to the resources Will require knowledge of proven management practices and ecology and habitat requirements

Stewardship Wise stewardship occurs when managers of natural resources make management decisions based on dependable information

Extinction Extinction of species is serious concern Several factors contribute to extinction introduction of alien species that outcompete native species overhunting by humans lack of adaptability in a species slow rate of reproduction

Extinction Destruction or modification of habitat single greatest cause of extinction

Managing At-Risk Species Managing populations of endangered or threatened species is difficult Effective management of endangered species must be based on reliable research Managing at-risk species will involve providing acceptable shelter and food sources

Managing At-Risk Species Management decisions must be applied in a variety of habitats farms, forests, wetlands, streams, lakes, and ponds

Managing Farmlands Management of farm wildlife often involves providing suitable habitat usually by-product of farming or ranching practices

Managing Farmlands Farmland management techniques include leaving corners of fields unharvested leaving shrubs and brush piles leaving crop residue standing through winter planting crops attractive to wildlife harvesting farm and ranch wildlife by hunting

Managing Forests Managing forests often focuses on increasing populations of a certain species If species is present, the goal is to maintain its population

Managing Forests Management of forests often involves developing a forest-management plan making clearings to provide new growth selective harvesting to produce a variety of habitats leaving piles of brush for cover

Managing Forests Developing a forest-management plan taking an inventory of species goal setting for habitat and species within it deciding how to support desired species

Managing Wetlands Most important habitat to wildlife provide food, nesting sites, and cover for many species of wildlife Wetland management techniques include impounding or holding water cutting trees to open up wetland area leaving hollow trees for nesting

Managing Wetlands establishing open, grassy areas around wetlands planting vegetation for food and cover protecting from pollution providing artificial nesting areas breeding and release programs

Managing Streams Protecting existing is critical because we cannot build new streams Stream management plans usually focus on fish Management of streams often involves preventing overgrazing of stream banks limiting access to stream by livestock

Managing Streams maintaining streamside vegetation sustaining desirable species of wildlife balancing populations with food supply using hatchery and stocking programs regulating sport fishing

Managing Lakes and Ponds Management techniques similar to streams Several management practices unique to standing water controlling pollution sustaining desired mixtures of species

Managing Lakes and Ponds maintaining appropriate dissolved oxygen levels eliminating unwanted species stocking desired species