Wildlife Science: Linking Ecological Theory and Management Applications

361 Pages·2007·14.14 MB·English

by  Timothy E. Fulbright, David G. Hewitt

WILDLIFE SCIENCE
LINKING ECOLOGICAL THEORY
AND MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
WILDLIFE SCIENCE
LINKING ECOLOGICAL THEORY
AND MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
EDITED BY
TIMOTHY E. FULBRIGHT AND DAVID G. HEWITT
CRC Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wildlife science: linking ecological theory and management applications / edited by Timothy E.
Fulbright and David G. Hewitt.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-10:0-8493-7487-1 (hardcover: acid-free paper)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8493-7487-6 (hardcover: acid-free paper)
1. Animal ecology. 2. Wildlife management. I. Fulbright, Timothy E. II. Hewitt, David G. III. Title.
QH541.W449 2007
591.7-dc22 2007000601
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Contents
Preface.............................................................................................. vii
Editors.............................................................................................. ix
Contributors....................................................................................... xi
PartI Birds..................................................................................... 1
Chapter1 ConservationandManagementforMigratoryBirds:InsightsfromPopulation
DataandTheoryintheCaseoftheWhite-WingedDove......................... 3
JohnH.Rappole,AlanS.Pine,DavidA.Swanson,andGaryL.Waggerman
Chapter2 AvianEcologyattheLandscapeScaleinSouthTexas:Applying
MetapopulationTheorytoGrasslandBirdConservation......................... 21
WilliamP.Kuvlesky,Jr.,LeonardA.Brennan,BartM.Ballard,and
TomM.Langschied
Chapter3 GlobalBiodiversityConservation:WeNeedMoreManagersandBetter
Theorists............................................................................. 43
G.R.(Dick)Potts
Chapter4 UplandGameBirdManagement:LinkingTheoryandPracticein
SouthTexas ......................................................................... 65
LeonardA.Brennan,FidelHernández,WilliamP.Kuvlesky,Jr.,and
FredS.Guthery
Chapter5 AnEcologicalBasisforManagementofWetlandBirds.......................... 79
GuyA.Baldassarre
Chapter6 LinkingWaterfowlEcologyandManagement:ATexasCoastPerspective...... 95
BartM.Ballard
PartII Mammals.............................................................................. 109
Chapter7 ConservingtheCats,CougarManagementasaModel:AReview............... 111
MauriceG.Hornocker
Chapter8 EffectsofDroughtonBobcatsandOcelots ....................................... 123
MichaelE.TewesandMauriceG.Hornocker
Chapter9 SeeingtheWorldthroughtheNoseofaBear—DiversityofFoodsFosters
BehavioralandDemographicStability ............................................ 139
DavidL.GarshelisandKarenV.Noyce
Chapter10 Metapopulations,Food,andPeople:BearManagementinNorthernMexico... 165
DavidGlennHewittandDianaDoan-Crider
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Chapter11 Ecology,Evolution,Economics,andUngulateManagement..................... 183
MarcoFesta-Bianchet
Chapter12 DensityDependenceinDeerPopulations:RelevanceforManagementin
VariableEnvironments.............................................................. 203
CharlesA.DeYoung,D.LynnDrawe,TimothyEdwardFulbright,
DavidGlennHewitt,StuartW.Stedman,DavidR.Synatzske,andJamesG.Teer
PartIII Habitat ............................................................................... 223
Chapter13 FromtheManagementofSingleSpeciestoEcosystemManagement........... 225
JackWardThomas
Chapter14 ApplyingEcologicalTheorytoHabitatManagement:TheAlteringEffectsof
Climate .............................................................................. 241
TimothyEdwardFulbright,J.AlfonsoOrtega-S.,AllenRasmussen,and
EricJ.Redeker
PartIV AnimalHealthandGenetics..................................................... 259
Chapter15 TheIntroductionandEmergenceofWildlifeDiseasesinNorthAmerica ....... 261
RobertG.McLean
Chapter16 WildlifeDiseaseManagement:AnInsurmountableChallenge?.................. 279
ScottE.Henke,AlanM.Fedynich,andTylerA.Campbell
Chapter17 ConservationGeneticsofMarineTurtles—10YearsLater...................... 295
JohnC.Avise
Chapter18 GeneticsandAppliedManagement:UsingGeneticMethodstoSolve
EmergingWildlifeManagementProblems........................................ 317
RandyW.DeYoung
PartV EconomicandSocialIssuesAffectingWildlifeScience..................... 337
Chapter19 Society,Science,andtheEconomy:ExploringtheEmergingNewOrderin
WildlifeConservation .............................................................. 339
ShaneP.MahoneyandJackieN.Weir
Chapter20 WildlifeandRanching:FromExternalitytoProfitCenter........................ 355
BarryH.Dunn
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Preface
CaesarKlebergcreatedtheCaesarKlebergFoundationforWildlifeConservationinhiswillin1946.
Heneverknewwhatwouldbecomeofitorwhatdirectionitwouldtake,butwhathebelievedwas
true, withoutquestionordiscussion. HisrationaleforcreatingtheCaesarKlebergFoundationfor
WildlifeConservationisbestdescribedbythesewordsinhisLastWillandTestament:
“Becauseoftheimportanceofwildlifeanditsbeneficialeffectsonthehealth,habits,andcharacter
oftheAmericanpeople.”
Thetrusteesofhisfoundation,LeroyDenman,Jr.,Dr.DuaneLeach,andStephenJustice“Tio”
Kleberg, created the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in 1981. In early summer 2004,
scientistsoftheCaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitutemettoplana25thanniversarycelebration
for the Institute. One of their goals was to select a topic for a 25thAnniversary Symposium that
would honor the words of Caesar Kleberg and the wise stewardship of the trustees of the Caesar
KlebergFoundationforWildlifeConservation.Thetopicselectedwas”LinkingEcologicalTheory
and ManagementApplications”; a topic that we felt emphasized the focus of the Caesar Kleberg
WildlifeResearchInstitute,whichisadvancingthescienceofwildlifemanagement.Itisatopicof
fundamentalandincreasingimportanceinwildlifescienceandnaturalresourcesconservation.
Weinvitedagroupofthebestandbrightestmindsinwildlifesciencetojoinusinasymposium
heldinApril2006.Byincludingforemostinternationalexpertsinwildlifescience,thesymposium
addressed the critically important theme of linking theory and management applications from the
perspectiveofanumberofauthorsworkingwithdiversewildlifespecies, inavarietyofhabitats.
This design ensured the symposium had an international scope, but at the same time focused on
species important to southern Texas, such as white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) and ocelots
(Leoparduspardalis). WildlifeScience: LinkingEcologicalTheoryandManagementApplications
isthecompilationofthescientificpaperspresentedatthatsymposium.
Advancementinwildlifemanagementtheoryandapplicationisinextricablylinkedtotheevol-
ution of ecological theory. The objective of Wildlife Science: Linking Ecological Theory and
Management Applications is to elucidate the theoretical underpinnings of wildlife management
applicationsandphilosophyandtolinkevolvingecologicalconceptstochangesinappliedwildlife
management.Wildlifemanagementisanimportantpartofthefieldofappliedecology; therefore,
theexpectedresultsofmanagementpracticesarepredictionsoftheecologicaltheoryuponwhich
management is based. Developing an understanding of the connection between theory and man-
agementiscriticalforstudentsofwildlifescienceandwildlifeprofessionals.Advancesinwildlife
managementinvolve,inpart,theabilityofwildlifeprofessionalstorefineandchangemanagement
paradigms based on new developments and ideas in ecology. The ability of wildlife professionals
toconnectmanagementandcutting-edgeecologicaltheoryissomewhatconstrainedbecauseecolo-
gicaltheoryandnewideasinwildlifemanagementarepublishedinseparatescientificoutletsthat
oftenhavedistinctlydifferentreaderships.
Wildlife Science: Linking Ecological Theory and Management Applications brings together
cutting-edgetheoryandmanagementinabroadperspective, andattemptstoestablishtheimport-
anceoftheconnectionbetweentheoryandmanagement.Managersgenerallyhaveatheoryinmind,
althoughsometimestheymaynotbeawareofthedetailsorramificationsofthattheory.Forexample,
amanagermayrecommendacertainlevelofharvestofananimalbasedontheassumptionthatredu-
cing densities will result in improved habitat conditions and greater population productivity. The
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
assumption in the example is based on theory, whether or not the manager is aware of the details
of that theory. Sometimes predictions of the practitioners may be more astute than predictions of
the theoreticians, as pointed out by Dick Potts in Chapter 2. This incongruence emphasizes that
practitionersandtheoreticiansneedtoworktogether,notseparately.
TheprimaryaudienceforWildlifeScience:LinkingEcologicalTheoryandManagementApplic-
ationsiswildlifeandnaturalresourceprofessionals;theseincludeuniversityprofessors;biologists
forgovernmentagencies;biologistsworkingforstatewildlifedepartments;ecologicalconsultants;
anduniversitystudents.Thisbookmayserveasasupplementarytextforcoursesinwildlifeecology,
landscapeecology,orconservationbiology.
The volume is divided into five parts, reflecting the diverse breadth of wildlife science: birds,
mammals, habitat, animal health and genetics, and economic and social issues. Part I focuses on
landscapeecologyofmigratorybirds; theincreasingneedforlinkingtheoryandpracticeingame
birdmanagement.PartIIdealswiththeecologyofconservingandmanagingmammalpopulations.
Theemergenceofecosystemmanagementinmanagingwildlifeattheecosystemscaleandincreasing
understanding of the role of climate in applying ecological theory to habitat management are the
topicsofPartIII.PartIVdealswithmanagingwildlifediseasesand,also,theincreasingimportance
and role of genetics in conservation and ecology. Economic and social issues affecting wildlife
sciencearetheemphasisofPartV.
CaesarKlebergrecognizedthatmanagingandconservingwildlifeisimportanttothewelfareand
characterofsociety.Astheoreticalecologistscontinuallydevelopnewideasandtheories,thesenew
conceptscanoftenserveasthebasisforimprovingandrefiningapproachestowildlifemanagement.
The authors hope that the chapters in this volume will help fulfill the goal of advancing wildlife
managementbyconnectingittorelevantecologicaltheory.
FredC.Bryant
LeroyG.Denman,Jr.EndowedDirectorofWildlifeResearch
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Editors
Timothy(Tim)EdwardFulbrightisaRegentsProfessor
and is the Meadows Professor in Semiarid Land Ecology
at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas
A&M University–Kingsville. He is director of the Cen-
ter for Semiarid Land Ecology and the Jack R. and Loris
J. Welhausen Experimental Station. He graduated magna
cumlaudefromAbileneChristianUniversityin1976witha
bachelorofsciencedegreeinbiologywithaminorinchem-
istry. He obtained his master’s degree in wildlife biology
fromAbileneChristianUniversityin1978.In1981,hecom-
pletedhisPhDinrangeecologyatColoradoStateUniversity.
Tim became an assistant professor at Texas A&M
University–Kingsville(thenTexasA&IUniversity)in1981
andservedaschairoftheDepartmentofAnimalandWildlife
Sciencesfrom1996to2000.Hisprimaryresearchinterests
are wildlife habitat management, habitat restoration, and
rangeland ecology. He has authored or coauthored a book,
63 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and seven book
chapters.
TimservedasanassociateeditoroftheJournalofRangeManagementduring1989–1993.He
is past president of the Texas Section, Society for Range Management. He received the Regents
Professor ServiceAward in 2000, one of the highest awards given by theTexasA&M University
System,andtheViceChancellor’sAwardinExcellenceinSupportofSystemAcademicPartnership
Efforts, TheAgriculture Program of theTexasA&M University System in 2001. He received the
OutstandingAchievementAwardfromtheInternationalSocietyforRangeManagementin2004.
DavidGlennHewittistheStuartStedmanChairforWhite-
tailedDeerResearchattheCaesarKlebergWildlifeResearch
InstituteatTexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville.Hegraduated
withhighestdistinctionandhonorsfromColoradoStateUni-
versityin1987,withabachelorofsciencedegreeinwildlife
biology.Heearnedamaster’sdegreeinwildlifebiologyfrom
WashingtonStateUniversityandthenworkedforayearasa
researchassociateattheTexasAgricultureExperimentSta-
tioninUvalde, Texas. In1994, DavidcompletedaPhDin
wildlifebiologyatVirginiaTech.
DavidtaughtwildlifecoursesatHumboldtStateUniver-
sity during the 1994–1995 academic year and then spent a
yearasapostdoctoralscientistattheJackBerrymanInstitute
atUtahStateUniversity. Hebecameanassistantprofessor
atTexasA&MUniversity–Kingsvillein1996.Hisprimary
research interests are in wildlife nutrition and white-tailed
deer ecology and management. He has authored or coau-
thored 39 peer-reviewed scientific publications and a book
chapter.
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
DavidservedasassociateeditoroftheJournalofWildlifeManagementduring1997–1998and
RangelandEcology&Managementduring2004–2006.HewasrecognizedastheOutstandingYoung
AlumnusfromtheCollegeofNaturalResourcesatVirginiaPolytechnicInstituteandStateUniversity
in1999,receivedtheJavelinaAlumniAwardforResearchExcellencein2004,andthePresidential
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship from the College of Agriculture and Human
Sciences,TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville,alsoin2004.
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Contributors
JohnC.Avise BarryH.Dunn
DepartmentofEcologyandEvolutionary ExecutiveDirectoroftheKingRanchInstitute
Biology forRanchManagement
UniversityofCalifornia TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
Irvine,California Kingsville,Texas
GuyA.Baldassarre AlanM.Fedynich
CollegeofEnvironmentalScienceand CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
Forestry TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
StateUniversityofNewYork Kingsville,Texas
Syracuse,NewYork
MarcoFesta-Bianchet
BartM.Ballard
DepartmentofBiology
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
UniversityofSherbrooke
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
Sherbrooke,Québec,Canada
Kingsville,Texas
TimothyEdwardFulbright
LeonardA.Brennan
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
Kingsville,Texas
Kingsville,Texas
DavidL.Garshelis
TylerA.Campbell
MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources
USDAAPHIS-WildlifeServices
St.Paul,Minnesota
NationalWildlifeResearchCenterTexasField
Station FredS.Guthery
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville DepartmentofNaturalResourceEcologyand
Kingsville,Texas Management
OklahomaStateUniversity
CharlesA.DeYoung
Stillwater,Oklahoma
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
ScottE.Henke
Kingsville,Texas
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearch
RandyW.DeYoung Institute
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville Kingsville,Texas
Kingsville,Texas
FidelHernández
DianaDoan-Crider CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville Kingsville,Texas
Kingsville,Texas
DavidGlennHewitt
D.LynnDrawe CaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute
RobandBessieWelderWildlifeFoundation TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville
Sinton,Texas Kingsville,Texas
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC