Forest Bird Habitat Suitability Models and the Development of General Habitat Models


Book Description

Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models were developed to assess the sensitivity of wildlife to habitat perturbations. Because most models consider a single species, their generality is limited. We evaluate the feasibility of combining such models for species occupying similar habitats to create more general models of wildlife-habitat relations. We base our evaluation on an analysis of HSI models for 16 forest bird species. Standardization of both measurement and definition of minimum area and life requisites is necessary to permit model aggregation. Validation should focus especially on assumptions about factors limiting population density and productivity and about how SI values are combined in equations to produce overall HSI values. We emphasize the importance of manipulative field experiments and model sensitivity analyses in such validation activities. We compare the 'bottom-up' approach, in which individual models are aggregated to develop more general models, to the 'top-down' approach of beginning with broad statements about a system and adding in detail only as it is needed. Any attempts to model wildlife-habitat interrelations, whether they apply to single species or suites of species, must also consider the importance of the spatial and temporal scales of resolution used and must treat habitat units as part of a larger landscape mosaic.




Wildlife and Landscape Ecology


Book Description

While the research and management of wildlife has traditionally emphasised studies at smaller scales, it is now acknowledged that larger, landscape-level patterns strongly influence demographic processes in wild animal species. This book is the first to provide the conceptual basis for learning how larger scale patterns and processes can influence the biology and management of wildlife species. It is divided into three sections: Underlying Concepts, Landscape Metrics and Applications and Large Scale Management.




Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes


Book Description

A single-resource volume of information on the most current and effective techniques of wildlife modeling, Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes is appropriate for students and researchers alike. The unique blend of conceptual, methodological, and application chapters discusses research, applications and concepts of modeling and presents new ideas and strategies for wildlife habitat models used in conservation planning. The book makes important contributions to wildlife conservation of animals in several ways: (1) it highlights historical and contemporary advancements in the development of wildlife habitat models and their implementation in conservation planning; (2) it provides practical advice for the ecologist conducting such studies; and (3) it supplies directions for future research including new strategies for successful studies.Intended to provide a recipe for successful development of wildlife habitat models and their implementation in conservation planning, the book could be used in studying wildlife habitat models, conservation planning, and management techniques. Additionally it may be a supplemental text in courses dealing with quantitative assessment of wildlife populations. Additionally, the length of the book would be ideal for graduate student seminar course.Using wildlife habitat models in conservation planning is of considerable interest to wildlife biologists. With ever tightening budgets for wildlife research and planning activities, there is a growing need to use computer methods. Use of simulation models represents the single best alternative. However, it is imperative that these techniques be described in a single source. Moreover, biologists should be made aware of alternative modeling techniques. It is also important that practical guidance be provided to biologists along with a demonstration of utility of these procedures. Currently there is little guidance in the wildlife or natural resource planning literature on how best to incorporate wildlife planning activities, particularly community-based approaches. Now is the perfect time for a synthestic publication that clearly outlines the concepts and available methods, and illustrates them. - Only single resource book of information not only on various wildlife modeling techniques, but also with practical guidance on the demonstrated utility of each based on real-world conditions. - Provides concepts, methods and applications for wildlife ecologists and others within a GIS context. - Written by a team of subject-area experts




Practical Conservation Biology


Book Description

Provides the essential framework for under-graduate and post-graduate courses in conservation biology and natural resource management by covering the complete array of topics central to these fields. Lindenmayer from ANU, ACT and Burgman from University of Melbourne, Vic.










Systems Analysis in Forest Resources


Book Description

Systems analysis in forestry has continued to advance in sophistication and diversity of application over the last few decades. The papers in this volume were presented at the eighth symposium in the foremost conference series worldwide in this subject area. Techniques presented include optimization and simulation modelling, decision support systems, alternative planning techniques, and spatial analysis. Over 30 papers and extended abstracts are grouped into the topical areas of (1) fire and fuels; (2) networks and transportation; (3) forest and landscape planning; (4) ecological modeling, biodiversity, and wildlife; and (5) forest resource applications. This collection will be of interest to forest planners and researchers who work in quantitative methods in forestry.




Quantitative Methods for Conservation Biology


Book Description

Quantitative methods are needed in conservation biology more than ever as an increasing number of threatened species find their way onto international and national “red lists. ” Objective evaluation of population decline and extinction probability are required for sound decision making. Yet, as our colleague Selina Heppell points out, population viability analysis and other forms of formal risk assessment are underused in policy formation because of data uncertainty and a lack of standardized methodologies and unambiguous criteria (i. e. , “rules of thumb”). Models used in conservation biology range from those that are purely heuristic to some that are highly predictive. Model selection should be dependent on the questions being asked and the data that are available. We need to develop a toolbox of quantitative methods that can help scientists and managers with a wide range of systems and that are subject to varying levels of data uncertainty and environmental variability. The methods outlined in the following chapters represent many of the tools needed to fill that toolbox. When used in conjunction with adaptive management, they should provide information for improved monitoring, risk assessment, and evaluation of management alternatives. The first two chapters describe the application of methods for detecting trends and extinctions from sighting data. Presence/absence data are used in general linear and additive models in Chapters 3 and 4 to predict the extinction proneness of birds and to build habitat models for plants.




Strategies for Bird Conservation


Book Description

This volume represents a compilation of papers presented at the 3rd International Partners in Flight Workshop held October 1-5, 1995, at the Grand Hotel in Cape May, NJ. The title of the workshop was 'Partners in Flight Conservation Plan: Building Consensus for Action.' Manuscripts have been available on-line at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology web site (http://birds.cornell.edu/pifcapemay) since the year 1999, and the majority of them have been updated recently to reflect knowledge available by the 2000 publication date. The volume is divided into seven sections that range from general planning considerations to a case study in bird conservation planning. References from all papers are compiled in a single 'References' section at the end of the volume.