Britain's Mammals: A field guide to the mammals of Great ...
British mammals!!!
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Transcript of British mammals!!!
British mammals!!!
Tutorial: Re-wilding the UK
• Should we reintroduce the top predatorswolf, lynx, bears
• Should we reintroduce keystone speciesthe beaver, wild boar
TodayBackgroundWolf reintroductions in the USWolves in the UK BeaversQuestions to consider
Reading package for Week 11Mix of science and newspaper articles
- read at least 1 science paper
Tutorial - week 112 teamsPro- wolf No wolfNo beaver vs Pro-beaver
Wolves
Musiani and Paquet 2004
• Have the broadest natural distribution of any mammal except humans
• Resilient to modest levels of human disturbance- High annual productivity (~4 pups/year per adult female)- Disperse over wide ranges (typically as much as 200 km)
• Hunted almost to extinction in the contiguous US and Western Europe
Wolf numbers
Exterminated from lower 48 states, except Minnesota
Yellowstone reintroduction begins
Musiani and Paquet 2004
• are rebounding from very low levels in the US- natural: migration into Minnesota, Montana from Canada- reintroductions: Yellowstone, New Mexico
• are recovering in western Europe- natural: migration form eastern Europe
But wolves compete with humans
Algonquin Park example:• 68% of mortality outside park, • 48% of this related to seasonal
movements to track deer• Protection may require
management inside and outside of protected areas
Forbes and Theberge 1996
Prey on species humans like to hunt
Can prey on lifestock
wolves can be killed to protect livestock or ungulates
1949 1964 1982 1991
What do wolves need?
Urquhart 1998
USGS Fact sheet 2005-3011
• High ungulate density
• High forest cover
• <4 humans / km2
• <0.7 km roads / km2
• Low livestock density
Wolf reintroductions to Yellowstone National Park
BACKGROUNDextirpated in region since about 1920sreintroduction first proposed in 1940sPublic debate was intense
local inhabitants, park users, interest groups, stakeholders, scientists
Reintroductions went ahead in 1995
Wolf reintroductions in the US
Soft and hard released wolves produced pups in the first year
YNP Central Idaho MontanaTranslocated Alberta-caught wolves14 wolves in 1995; 16 in 1996“Soft” or “slow” released-held in 1acre pens for 4-6 weeks before releasePacks/partial packs used
Translocated Alberta-caught wolves15 wolves in 1995, 20 in 1996“Hard” or “quick” released-released immediately into the wild from their transport containersYearlings and juveniles used
Natural recolonization1st wolves recolonized in 1986
Wolf reintroductions in the US
• pack formation occurred within the soft release pens (YNP) and soon after release (YNP + Idaho)
• recovery targets had been met (30+ breeding pairs total for 3yrs running) by 2002
• Population in NW US should continue to grow
• Population in Yellowstone isolated and nr capacity
• wolves alters elk behaviour & density----> regrowth of cottonwood, willow----> restoration of riparian habitat----> increases songbird spp richness and diversity----> beavers recolonize the area
Impact of reintroduction on the ecosystem
• Wolves reduce the coyote population; ----> mesopredator release increase in fox and wolverines
• Wolf kills provide food ----> +ve impact on bears, eagles,
ravens
Impact of reintroduction on humans
• Wolves have spread more rapidly than expectedColonized areas outside “core habitat”
—> greater contact with humans and livestock
• Wolves are killing livestock88 “problem” wolves translocated
70% fail to establish or join a new pack 30-40% continue to prey on livestock,
• Wolves were de-listed in March 2008 hunting of wolves in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming has resumed
Wolf reintroductions to Arizona and New Mexico
Mexican grey wolf
Reduced to 7 individuals in 1960s ---> Captive breeding efforts increased
Reintroductions commenced in 1998First pups born in wild in 2002
Butextensive wolf human conflict
---> legal trapping/shooting by government ----> illegally shooting common
Why?
2/3 of wolf range is open to cattle grazing
area also used for mining and recreation
Wolves in the UK
Once commonextirpated from England and Wales in 1500’sextirpated in Highlands of Scotland in early 1700’s
“the wolf was doomed to extinction because of increasing exploitation of woodlands for charcoal, a more commercial style of farming, and a big expansion of cattle droving”
James Hunter, Centre for History, Inverness
2000+ Calls for “serious debate” about reintroductions
Why reintroduce wolves?
Natural HeritageConservation ethicsEcological
– restoring the Highland’s natural integrity– deer overpopulate the Highlands– wolves will regulate deer allowing flora and fauna to recover
EconomicConservation leadershipAtonement
We like them
The Wolf Trust, UK
“Serious” debate?
Let's declare the entire island a 'wild zone' and bring wolves, tiger, lions, T Rex, elephants, and other assorted animals here and let them run wild, slaughtering sheep, deer, mink, seagulls and those cutting peat whilst rich hunters are helicoptered in to stay in expensive private hotels guarded by 20ft of razor wire and big guys with automatic rifles.
Angus Nicholson, Councillor Western Isles, Scotland
on wolf ecotourism
Castor canadensis
Canadian - 20 kg - 1 m
Castor fiber
European - slightly bigger - slightly longer
European beaver
Extirpated from UK in 1500’s
Survived on mainland in isolated pockets (black)
European augmentation and reintroductions began in 1920’s
Range expanding (grey)
Why reintroduce beavers?
Ecological– Role in riparian ecosystem– Renew and recreate wetlands with benefits to frogs, toads,
dragonflies, freshwater fish, water vole, otterMoral/Ethical
- most large mammals have been extirpated from the UK- Scotland is “biologically impoverished”
Because we can- 13+ reintroductions have been successful in Europe
We like them, too
Issues with reintroducing beavers?
EcologicalDams can create wetlands and lead to flooding of riparian
woodlandsRequired aspen habitat is limited
Economic Dams can close drainage canals and lead to flooding of agricultural land
Moral/Ethical Conflicts with humans can lead to culling (eg Estonia - 2000/yr) is it ethical to introduce a species which then has to be controlled by culling
Current status of reintroductions in UK
England2001 - Kent - 2 families introduced but failed to breed2005 - Lancashire - 6 introduced from Bavaria
- 500 acre fenced private estate - monitoring ongoing
Scotland2005 Inverness - Pair released into private loch2005 Scottish Wildlife Trust - applied to release 20 animals in Argyle
Application denied2007 Scottish Wildlife Trust - applied again
Public consultations lasted 2 months2008 Scottish Gov’t agrees to release of 4 families in May 2009
Release would be “totally irresponsible”–Robin Malcolm, Local landowner
Do they meet IUCN guidelines?
Wolf and beaver reintroductions in the UK
need to increase number or rangeno risk to source populationcause of decline removedsufficient protected habitatcommunity supportimpact on people +ve$$$
Has it been too long? Can they be put back?
What are your goals? Are these viable?
How would you proceed? Who needs to be involved in discussions?What stock do you reintroduce? How many?
How do you manage human-wildlife conflicts?
Wolf and beaver reintroductions
TodayBackgroundWolf reintroductions in the USWolves in the UK BeaversQuestions to consider
Reading packageMix of science and newspaper articles
- read at least 1 science paper
Tutorial2 teamsPro- wolf No wolfNo beaver vs Pro-beaver
Pleistocene rewilding in North America www.rewilding.org
American cheetah Pleistocene horses American camel
Endangered modern replacements