TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating wildlife management by using principles of applied ecology
T2 - Case studies and implications
AU - Hone, Jim
AU - Drake, V. Alistair
AU - Krebs, Charles J.
PY - 2018/8/29
Y1 - 2018/8/29
N2 - Context The broad concepts and generalisations that guide conduct of applied ecology, including wildlife management, have been reviewed and synthesised recently into 22 prescriptive and three empirical principles. Aims The aim of this study was to use these principles to evaluate three on-ground wildlife management programs and assess the utility of the principles themselves. Key results Case studies of long-term management of national park biodiversity impacted by feral pigs (Sus scrofa), and of conservation and harvest of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and mallards (Anas platyrhnchos), were selected to provide a representative range of management objectives, spatial scales and land tenures, and to include both native and introduced species. Management documents and a considerable scientific literature were available for all three programs. The results highlight similarities and differences among management activities and demonstrate the 25 principles to differing degrees. Most of the prescriptive principles were demonstrated in both the management and the scientific literature in all three programs, but almost no use was made of the three empirical principles. We propose that use of the prescriptive principles constitutes evidence that these programs meet both societal and scientific expectations. However, the limited use of the empirical principles shows gaps in the three programs. Conclusions The results suggest that evaluating other wildlife management programs against the principles of applied ecology is worthwhile and could highlight aspects of those programs that might otherwise be overlooked. Little use was made of the empirical principles, but the the Effort-outcomes principle in particular provides a framework for evaluating management programs. Implications The effort-outcomes relationship should be a focus of future applied research, and both prescriptive and empirical principles should be integrated into wildlife management programs.
AB - Context The broad concepts and generalisations that guide conduct of applied ecology, including wildlife management, have been reviewed and synthesised recently into 22 prescriptive and three empirical principles. Aims The aim of this study was to use these principles to evaluate three on-ground wildlife management programs and assess the utility of the principles themselves. Key results Case studies of long-term management of national park biodiversity impacted by feral pigs (Sus scrofa), and of conservation and harvest of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and mallards (Anas platyrhnchos), were selected to provide a representative range of management objectives, spatial scales and land tenures, and to include both native and introduced species. Management documents and a considerable scientific literature were available for all three programs. The results highlight similarities and differences among management activities and demonstrate the 25 principles to differing degrees. Most of the prescriptive principles were demonstrated in both the management and the scientific literature in all three programs, but almost no use was made of the three empirical principles. We propose that use of the prescriptive principles constitutes evidence that these programs meet both societal and scientific expectations. However, the limited use of the empirical principles shows gaps in the three programs. Conclusions The results suggest that evaluating other wildlife management programs against the principles of applied ecology is worthwhile and could highlight aspects of those programs that might otherwise be overlooked. Little use was made of the empirical principles, but the the Effort-outcomes principle in particular provides a framework for evaluating management programs. Implications The effort-outcomes relationship should be a focus of future applied research, and both prescriptive and empirical principles should be integrated into wildlife management programs.
KW - conservation
KW - feral pig
KW - mallard
KW - pest control
KW - principles
KW - red kangaroo
KW - sustainable harvesting
KW - wildlife management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053032794&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/evaluating-wildlife-management-using-principles-applied-ecology-case-studies-implications
U2 - 10.1071/WR18006
DO - 10.1071/WR18006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85053032794
VL - 45
SP - 436
EP - 445
JO - Australian Wildlife Research
JF - Australian Wildlife Research
SN - 1035-3712
IS - 5
ER -