1. Wildlife Biology and Management
Chapter 9
Wildlife Biology and Management

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. Extinction Destruction or modification of habitat
single greatest cause of extinction

18. 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

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

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

21. 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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

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

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