Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Managing wildlife'

Tourism is the fastest growing sector in the world. It represents 10% of the global GDP and generates one in 11 jobs. Nature tourism has become increasingly popular in the last few decades and it is predicted to keep increasing. Wildlife watching has initially been welcomed by conservation and environmental organisations as a conservation tool. However, we now know that these activities can have severe consequences for the environment and for the local communities. In this thesis, I have provided advice on the governance approaches and management tools that can be used to facilitate sustainable outcomes of nature tourism socioecological systems. First, I used semi-quantitative models to investigate nature tourism systems' dynamics under perturbations and the properties that confer resilience to the system, as well as leading to sustainable outcomes. Then, after validating the use of social media data to quantify nature tourism activities in Scotland, I used it to identify the major drivers of intensity of nature tourism on a national scale. I then obtained a global picture of nature tourism and its role in helping countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In the end, I designed an individual-based model to test how different tourists' phenotypes influence the sustainability of a nature tourism destination and whether any governance regime could be effective in maintaining sustainable socioeconomic and ecological dynamics. This work will be useful to inform management of local, national and global scale governance of nature tourism. Caution is needed when promoting the expansion of a country's tourism sector before determining how to manage it sustainably. Scotland has already developed some of the governance institutions that could contribute to sustainable governance of nature tourism. What is needed now is designing flexible rules and institutions that will be able to adapt to future changes.

This thesis describes the wildlife resources of Senegal and a systems approach to how those resources can be managed. Based upon my 20 years experience in the Forest Service and the National Park Service, I made investigations through the literature, courses, seminars, conferences and interview in the United States and Senegal. The aim of the investigations was to gather wildlife resource-based data from Senegal, Africa, the United States, and other countries. This thesis is an effort to synthesize what is known about the forests and wildlife of Senegal and to describe a wildlife resource management system. The system is hypothesized to be a basis for organization, operations, and planning for the long-range management of the wildlife resources in the forests and shrublands of Senegal. The project described the country area. It described 4 key subsystems of the greater system to show what resources exist, and what is a system, and how a single pattern of analysis and design can result in efficiencies and increase productivity. The key subsystems are: (1) an Elephant Subsystem, (2) the National Park Subsystem, (3) a Hunting Areas Subsystem, (4) a Nature-Based Tourist Subsystem. The emphasis in each is on wildlife resources management. It is believed that most ideas developed in this study could be applied in the 8 Sahelian nations of West Africa and other African countries.

Master of Science

In this thesis, a critical analysis is proposed of the relationships between Inuit participation, science and policy in wildlife governance in the Nunavut Territory, Canada. This analysis situates the emergence of a participatory regime for the governance of wildlife in Nunavut, explores its performance and examines the relations between the ways in which wildlife governance arrangements are currently represented in policy and how they are played out in practice across the territory. To pursue these objectives, this research draws upon a number of theoretical perspectives and methodological strategies poised at a crossroads between environmental geography, science and technology studies, political ecology and ecological anthropology. It combines participant observation, semi-directed interviews and literature-based searches with approaches to the study of actor-networks, hybrid forums and scientific practices associated with Latour and Callon, as well as with Foucauldian and post-Foucauldian analyses of power, governmentality and subjectivity. This analysis suggests that the overall rationale within which wildlife governance operates in Nunavut remains largely based on a scientific and bureaucratic framework of resource management that poses significant barriers to the meaningful inclusion of Inuit views. In spite of their participation in wildlife governance through a range of institutional arrangements, consultation practices and research initiatives, the Inuit of Nunavut remain critical of the power relations embedded within existing schemes, where significant decision-making authority remains under the control of the territorial (or federal) government, and where asymmetries persist with regard to the capacity of various actors to produce and mediate their claims. In addition, while the use of Inuit knowledge, or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, in wildlife governance in Nunavut has produced some collaborative research and management endeavours, it has also crystallised a divide between ‘Inuit’ and ‘scientific’ knowledge, generated unresolved conflicts, fuelled mistrust among wildlife co-management partners and led to an overall limited inclusion of Inuit observations, values and beliefs in decision-making.

Urban environments are typically host to a high level of biodiversity which is important for the provision of ecosystem services, and for facilitating contact between humans and nature. However, accelerating urbanisation precipitates considerable declines in the number of species which inhabit these environments as a greater number of homes and roads are constructed to accommodate a growing global human population. Domestic gardens afford an important opportunity to combat these declines, owing to their capacity to support a high level of biodiversity and the substantial land area which they cover. However, the fine spatial scale of individual isolated domestic gardens constrains their ability to increase biodiversity at larger spatial scales. Consequently, managing domestic gardens collectively, by conjoining multiple neighbouring domestic gardens and managing them as a single larger habitat, has been proposed as a promising approach to increase biodiversity at these scales. Importantly however, the practical implementation of this approach necessitates neighbouring householders to collaboratively undertake biodiversity favourable garden management and to conjoin their domestic gardens. Crucially, this management is performed by householders discretionarily and can be influenced by demographic, perceptual, environmental, and socio-economic factors. Furthermore, householder attitudes towards conjoining domestic gardens may also influence the practicality of this approach. Therefore, this research explores what impact the extent to which householders undertake biodiversity favourable garden management has on the practicality of the collective management approach and how this is influenced by the aforementioned factors. In addition, it explores how this practicality is influenced by householder attitudes to conjoining domestic gardens. Lastly, it investigates how the collaborative undertaking of biodiversity favourable garden management by neighbouring householders could be encouraged, taking into consideration the constraints associated with current projects which promote such management. A survey was used to explore the prevalence of biodiversity favourable garden management, the influences on this management, and attitudes towards conjoining domestic gardens. This was conducted with an online semi-structured questionnaire which was distributed to householders using the social-networking site, Facebook. In addition, a bio-indicator approach was used to analyse the impact of general domestic garden management on biodiversity and birds were selected as a bio-indicator. Accordingly, respondents to the survey were also required to identify which bird species visit their domestic gardens. Seventeen elite interviews were also conducted with representatives from a range of organisations operating domestic garden projects, participants in such projects, and academics with expertise in domestic garden management, in order to explore the constraints associated with current domestic garden projects. The survey yielded 276 responses and provided support to the practicality of the collective management approach. In particular, it indicated that householders commonly undertake biodiversity favourable garden management, by predominantly providing food for birds and planting vegetation, and 60% of householders are willing to conjoin domestic gardens. However, the survey also highlighted that biodiversity favourable garden management is impeded by a number of factors. These included small domestic gardens, which particularly limit vegetation planting, and can be commonplace in urban environments. In addition, householders commonly nullify the benefits afforded by undertaking this management by covering domestic gardens with hard surface and lawns, which eliminate space for vegetation. Moreover, strong desires to retain ownership and privacy of domestic gardens precipitate the unwillingness of a significant proportion of householders to conjoin domestic gardens. This therefore challenges the practicality of the collective management approach. The results from the elite interviews indicated that householders lack commitment to current domestic garden projects, which are constrained by difficulties acquiring sufficient funding. These issues could also be pertinent to approaches which are developed to encourage the collaborative undertaking of biodiversity favourable garden management, further rendering the collective management approach impractical. The practicality of the collective management approach could be enhanced by modifying the design of new housing in a manner which is favourable to biodiversity and which ensures a minimal domestic garden size. In addition, including domestic gardens in green infrastructure strategies could further enhance this practicality. Furthermore, amending planning policy to regulate the covering of domestic gardens with hard surface and lawns more stringently could reduce the prevalence of these features. Householder commitment to approaches which encourage the collaborative undertaking of biodiversity favourable garden management could be promoted by providing feedback regarding the contribution this makes to increasing biodiversity at large spatial scales. Moreover, greater funding for these approaches could be acquired by also focusing on promoting the provision of ecosystem services. Finally, householder collaboration could be encouraged by accommodating desires for ownership and privatisation of domestic gardens. This could be respectively achieved by permitting flexibility regarding the biodiversity favourable garden management undertaken and separating conjoined domestic gardens with hedgerows.

The Edwards Plateau is the drainage area for the Edwards Aquifer, which provides water to over 2.2 million people. The plateau also provides other ecosystem services, such as wildlife habitat and the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The public concern for continued delivery of these ecosystem services is increasing; with private landowners of the plateau region affecting the delivery of these services. A geographic information systems spatial analysis was conducted for Bandera and Kerr counties, with two components being: (1) biophysical and (2) landowner interest. Together these resulted in an overarching map depicting the optimal locations to allocate government assistance to landowners for managing their property to support three ecosystem services: water yield, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration.In April 2003, a mail survey of selected landowners was conducted to determine their opinions regarding ecosystem services and cost-share programs (Olenick et al. 2005). In July 2004, a supplemental survey of respondents to the first survey was conducted to follow-up on a few questions answered incorrectly and to focus on landowner opinions regarding cost-share assistance programs and land management activities. Overall, it appeared that five year performance contracts were the most chosen contract type for respondents of all property sizes, earning mid/high annual incomes, and for all length of ownership time periods. Based on our findings, the publicly-funded assistance programs that should be allocated to the optimal ecosystem service locations are five and ten year performance contracts based on property size, length of ownership, and income level categories. The spatial and statistical analysis results were successful, in that optimal locations and types of cost share programs were identified for each ecosystem service in order to prioritize the allocation of limited public resources. The patches of ecosystem target areas within the final target area map can be used as land management demonstration sites to reveal to surrounding landowners the benefits of participating in publicly funded cost-share assistance programs. However, the study has been limited by the generality of the GIS statewide wildlife data.

(1) Reliable measures of population abundance are essential for managing wildlife effectively. Aerial surveys provide a rapid and efficient means of surveying large mammals and many techniques have been developed to adjust for the inability to count all animals within transects. The probability of detection varies according to a range of factors which are important to consider when estimating density. Standardised survey methods developed in flat country are not readily transferable to steep terrain due to safety, access and difficulties delineating transect widths. Other methods have logistic constraints and must adhere to various other assumptions. (2) Density estimators are seldom examined using actual population size, hence their ability to correct for true bias is unknown. Studies that compare techniques are difficult to interpret because of the uncertainty of adherence to their respective assumptions. Factors influencing detection probability, estimators that correct for bias, the validity of their assumptions and how these relate to true density are important considerations for selecting suitable methods. The aim of this study was to obtain accurate and reliable methods for estimating the density of feral goats by improving predictions of detection probability, investigating the assumptions of aerial surveys, and examining the accuracy of 15 density estimators by comparing with total counts of feral goats. (3) Group size, vegetation and observer were the most important factors influencing the probability of observing a group of goats during aerial surveys. However, different approaches to analysing these data influenced the significance of variables and the predicted probabilities. Goat colour, type of helicopter, site and rear observer experience in hours were also found to be significant (P<0.05) when using likelihood equations based on all animals in the population rather than only those in the sample. The slope of the terrain was also shown to significantly (P=0.014) affect the probability of detection. (4) Indices are commonly used in wildlife management for their simplicity and practicality, but their validity has been questioned because of variable probability of detection. Results of this study suggest aerial survey indices are useful in monitoring a range of medium-sized mammal species across space and time if differences in detection probability between species, group size, vegetation and observer are considered and their effects are standardised. (5) An assumption of most sampling regimes that is fundamental but rarely examined is that animals are not counted more than once. In this study the behavioural responses of feral goats to helicopters were investigated as a basis for estimating the probability that goats were recounted. No long-term consequences were evident in feral goat behaviour of responses to helicopters. However, helicopter surveys were found to alter the structure of 42% of groups observed, with 28% of groups merging with others and 14% splitting into separate groups. Therefore, group size estimated from the air should not be considered as biologically important, and when estimating density, researchers should also avoid using group sizes determined from independent ground observations to correct group sizes determined from aerial surveys. Goats were also more likely to flush further when helicopters were within 150 m, which is close to or within standard helicopter strip widths. Substantial movement occurred between transects and 21% of goats were estimated to be available for recounting in adjacent transects. (6) Different detection probabilities between groups of goats may be particularly relevant when using double-counting, where multiple observers are �capturing� and �recapturing� animals in the same instant. Many analyses test and adjust for this �unequal catchability� assumption in different ways, with the approaches of Huggins and Alho allowing prediction of unique probability values for a range of co-variates. The approach of Chao attempts to correct for skewed distributions in small samples. The Horvitz-Thompson approach provides a useful basis for estimating abundance (or density) when detection probability can be estimated and is known to vary between observations according to a range of independent variables, and also avoids errors associated with averaging group size. (7) After correcting for recounting, the Alho estimator applied to helicopter surveys was the most accurate (Bias = 0.02) and reliable of all techniques, which suggests that estimates were improved by taking into account unconditional detection probability and correcting individual observations according to their characteristics. The positive bias evident in the Chao (Bias = 0.28) and Petersen (Bias = 0.15) aerial survey estimators may have been a result of averaging detection probability across all observations. The inconsistency and inaccuracy of the ground-based area-count technique emphasises the importance of other assumptions in density estimation, such as representative sampling and availability bias. The accuracy of index-manipulation-index techniques was dependent on the indices used. Capture-recapture estimates using mustering showed slight negative bias (Bias = -0.08), which was likely a result of increased probability of re-capture (i.e. trap happy). Ground-based capture-resight estimates were labour intensive and positively biased (Bias = 0.13), likely due to underestimating the area sampled, or overestimating the number of unmarked individuals with each sample. (8) Helicopter survey using double-counting is recommended for estimating the density of feral goats in steep terrain. However, consideration of recounting under intensive sampling regimes and adjustments for the factors that influence unconditional detection probability is required.

The main argument of this dissertation is that the White Mountain Apache Tribe's appropriation of ecological restoration played a vital role in reinstituting control over knowledge production and eco-cultural resources on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in the second half of the twentieth century. As a corollary, I argue that the shift in knowledge production practices from a paternalistic foundation to a community-based approach resulted in positive consequences for the ecological health of the Apachean landscape and Apache culture. The democratization of science and technology on the reservation, therefore, proved paramount to the reestablishment of a relatively sustainable Apache society. Beginning with the Indian New Deal, the White Mountain Apache slowly developed the capacity to employ ecological restoration as an eco-political tool to free themselves from a long history of Euro-American cultural oppression and natural resource exploitation. Tribal restoration projects embodied the dual political function of cultural resistance to and cultural exchange with Western-based land management organizations. Apache resistance challenged Euro-American notions of restoration, nature, and sustainability while maintaining cultural identity, reasserting cultural autonomy, and protecting tribal sovereignty. But at the same time, the Apache depended on cultural exchange with federal and state land management agencies to successfully manage their natural resources and build an ecologically knowledgeable tribal workforce. Initially adopting a utilitarian conservation model of land management, restoration projects aided the creation of a relatively strong tribal economy. In addition, early successes with trout, elk, and forest restoration projects eventually granted the Tribe political leverage when they sought to reassume control over reservation resources from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Building on this foundation, Apache restoration work significantly diverged in character from the typical Euro-American restoration project by the 1990s. While striving toward self-sufficiency, the Tribe hybridized tribal cultural values with Western ecological values in their restoration efforts. These projects evolved the tripartite capacity to heal ecologically degraded reservation lands, to establish a degree of economic freedom from the federal government, and to restore cultural traditions. Having reversed their historical relationship of subjugation with government agencies, the Apache currently have almost full decision-making powers over tribal eco-cultural resources.
Ph. D.

Thesis (DTech. degree in Nature Conservation.)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2012.
Wildlife crop raiding is a pervasive and widespread problem. The purpose of the study is to investigate and understand underlying processes and structures associated with the crop raiding problem in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia in order to technically and scientifically support decisions by farmers and other stakeholders regarding crop raiding.

Thesis (MFA)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2009.
Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ronald Tobias. Restoring Eden is a DVD accompanying the thesis. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 27-29).

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, South Africa, 2017
Immobilization of white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is a fundamental procedure used in the conservation of this threatened megaherbivore and allows for the capture, translocation and treatment of individuals. Immobilization also allows scientific investigation, which facilitates protection of this species. The potent opioids, including etorphine, are the only class of drugs which allow for a rapid and reversible immobilization, which is essential in the capture of rhinoceros. However, immobilization is associated with changes in respiratory and cardiovascular function which can result in high morbidity and mortalities. I therefore investigated the cardiorespiratory pathophysiological effects of etorphine and azaperone; pharmacological agents most often used in rhinoceros immobilization, and examined the effectiveness of butorphanol, a mixed agonist- antagonist opioid, in limiting these adverse effects. Reducing morbidity and mortality risks through an increased understanding and moderation of drug- induced cardiorespiratory changes in immobilized rhinoceros will contribute to future successes in managing this species. In my first study, ten healthy captive white rhinoceros including four males and six females ranging in age from 3.5 to 15 yr were immobilized for a total of 13 procedures with etorphine plus azaperone, and administered butorphanol intravenously immediately after initial blood collection and physiological assessment. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters, body temperature and arterial blood gases were monitored for 100 min. The results confirmed that severe hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, tachycardia and an increased alveolar-arterial (A-a) oxygen gradient occur in immobilized rhinoceros. Giving butorphanol appeared to decrease heart rate, increase arterial oxygen tension, and decrease the A-a gradient and respiratory rate. However as the study was observational, it could not be confirmed that these changes were caused by butorphanol. Despite the initial improvements in blood oxygen levels, the rhinoceros remained severely hypoxaemic and hypercapnic for the remainder of the procedure. To further investigate the cardiorespiratory effects of butorphanol in immobilized rhinoceros, a randomised cross-over study design was used. Six healthy sub-adult male white rhinoceros were subjected to four drug interventions: 1) etorphine intramuscularly; 2) etorphine plus azaperone intramuscularly; 3) etorphine intramuscularly and post-induction butorphanol intravenously; and 4) etorphine plus azaperone intramuscularly, and post-induction butorphanol intravenously. The results from this study demonstrated that hypoxaemia and hypercapnia in etorphine-immobilized rhinoceros were not predominantly a result of a decrease in respiratory minute volume, as has been proposed in previous studies. Rather, an increase in metabolic oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, associated with muscle tremors, is suggested as the primary cause. In addition, a high alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient may have contributed to hypoxaemia and possibly also hypercapnia in immobilized rhinoceros. Although, decreased minute ventilation was not the fundamental cause of hypoxaemia and hypercapnia, low arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaCb) and high arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCC>2) did not stimulate ventilation, probably as a consequence of opioid-induced central and peripheral chemoreceptor inhibition. Butorphanol administered post-induction in etorphine-immobilized rhinoceros resulted in a moderate improvement in blood gases, although hypoxaemia and hypercapnia persisted. My results support the idea that improvements in PaC>2 and PaC02 after butorphanol administration resulted from reduced muscle tremors, metabolic oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production rather than improved minute ventilation. Cardiovascular changes in etorphine-immobilized rhinoceros included hypertension and tachycardia. The inclusion of azaperone with etorphine in the immobilizing drug combination reduced blood pressure to below normotensive values; however, heart rate remained elevated. The administration of butorphanol was followed by a reduction in heart rate with no clinical effect on blood pressures in etorphine-immobilized rhinoceros. Similarly, butorphanol did not change blood pressure but reduced tachycardia in individuals immobilized with etorphine plus azaperone. In summary, butorphanol administration reduced hypoxaemia and hypercapnia in immobilized white rhinoceros as a result of decreased muscle tremors and oxygen consumption. Reduced oxygen consumption may mitigate hypoxic and hypercapnic mortality risks associated with immobilization, especially in rhinoceros compromised due to old age, nutritional stress or disease. My findings indicate that butorphanol administration allows rhinoceros to be immobilized for extended periods, which facilitates clinical procedures in injured individuals or managing orphaned calves. The reduction in tachycardia suggests that butorphanol may have a myocardial oxygen-sparing effect and may lower the risk of an adverse outcome associated with immobilization. My recommendations for the immobilization of white rhinoceros to reduce the morbidity and mortality risks associated with etorphine-induced respiratory and cardiovascular changes include azaperone administration in combination with the potent opioid. The inclusion of azaperone reduces hypertension in etorphine- immobilized rhinoceros. However, 1 suggest that lower azaperone doses be considered compared to those used in my studies to moderate the decrease in blood pressure and possible complications associated with reduced tissue perfusion. Butorphanol should be administered intravenously to etorphine plus azaperone-immobilized-rhinoceros as soon as possible after induction to limit increased opioid-induced metabolic effects and improve hypoxaemia and hypercapnia. The administration of butorphanol also has the advantage of reducing tachycardia with a potential myocardial oxygen sparing effect in immobilized-rhinoceros. Butorphanol should be administered in repeated doses (5 to 10 x etorphine dose in mg) until limb muscle tremoring is reduced and possibly halted, and an elevated heart rate slows to less than 100 beats per minute or slower. Future research should focus on improving alveolar gas exchange and reducing the sympathomimetic and hypermetabolic effects of the potent opioids in immobilized-rhinoceros, and not only just improving ventilation and blood pressure.
MT 2018

Portuguese wolf populations suffered a decrease during the 20th century mainly due to the expansion of road network, increasing number of forest fires, decrease of wild prey populations, and human persecution. This is particularly worrying in Central Portugal, South of River Douro, where populations are small, highly fragmented and isolated, with little genetic variability and instable reproduction, and low density of wild prey. Conflict in this area is aggravated by high levels of livestock depredation, where livestock makes up for more than 90% of wolves diet. This antagonizes Humans towards wildlife, that typically respond by recurring to activities such as illegal pouching or poisoning in order to solve their problem. This problematic is recognized as the first cause of large carnivores’ persecution and population decline. By surveying individual attitudes toward wolves in central Portugal, we believe that it is possible to understand and even predict behaviour towards the specie. This was done using a questionnaire to sample local population, a total of 222 questionnaires from three interest groups (general public, N=119; livestock owners, N=88; and hunters, N=24) were analysed. We measured Attitude, Fear and Knowledge Index, tested correlation between Index and examined which variables influenced Attitudes and Fear. Attitudes towards wolves were positive, even though Fear high and Knowledge was low. We also found that attitudes tend to be more positive with the decrease of fear and the increase of knowledge, and fear tends to decrease with the increase of knowledge. The main variable influencing attitudes negatively was found to be Fear, and age for the livestock owners, where people older than 60 years old tend to have more negative attitude. As for Fear the main influenceable variables belong to the female gender, a low knowledge index and the knowledge/having suffered from wolf depredation. These results can be used to increase locals’ tolerance, by creating tailored conservational measures together with all the stakeholders’ group
Durante o século XX, a população portuguesa de lobos sofreu um decréscimo devido à expansão rodoviária, aumento de fogos florestais, diminuição de presas selvagens e à perseguição humana. Isto é particularmente preocupante no centro de Portugal, a sul do rio Douro, onde as populações são pequenas, altamente fragmentadas e isoladas, com baixa variabilidade genética e reprodução instável e baixa densidade de presas selvagens. Nesta área, os conflitos são agravados devido aos altos níveis de predação a gado doméstico, que constitui mais de 90% da dieta dos lobos. Este tipo de comportamentos dificulta as interações entre os humanos e a vida selvagem, instigando muitas vezes, comportamentos como a caça ilegal ou envenenamento para solucionar o “problema”, sendo esta a principal causa de perseguição e decréscimo das populações de grandes carnívoros. Avaliando as atitudes individuais para com o lobo no centro de Portugal, acreditamos ser possível perceber e prever comportamentos para com a espécie. Recorremos a um questionário para amostrar a população local, um total de 222 questionários de três grupos alvo (publico geral, N= 119; donos de gado, N= 88; e caçadores, N= 24) foram analisados. Medimos os Índices de Atitude, Medo e Conhecimento, testamos a correlação entre índices e examinamos quais as variáveis que influenciavam as Atitudes e o Medo. As atitudes para com o lobo são positivas, apesar do índice de Medo ser elevado e o Conhecimento baixo. Também descobrimos que as atitudes tendem a ser mais positivas quando o medo é baixo e o conhecimento alto. As principais variáveis que influenciam as atitudes negativamente são o medo e a idade no caso dos donos de gado, em que pessoas mais velhas que 60 anos tinham atitudes negativas. Em relação ao medo, as principais variáveis que o influenciam são pessoas do género feminino, o baixo índice de conhecimento e ter conhecimento/sofrido ataques a gado doméstico. Estes resultados podem ser utilizados para aumentar a tolerâncias dos locais, criando medidas conservacionista personalizadas em conjunto com todos os grupos de interesse
Mestrado em Ecologia Aplicada

In South Australia, overabundant kangaroo populations are managed through commercial harvest. Kangaroo harvest rates over the past decade have averaged only 40% of the harvest quota despite strong demand for the product. With kangaroo populations increasing, the problem of low kangaroo harvest rate in South Australia requires research attention. Previous research regarding kangaroo harvest has focused on questions of biology and ecology and little attention has been directed towards advancing understanding of the human dimensions of kangaroo management. This research sought to fill this gap in knowledge. Qualitative research methods were most appropriate due to the focus on social and institutional dimensions of kangaroo management. Data were collected during interviews with people involved in commercial kangaroo harvest: landholders, harvesters and meat processors. The main topics covered were regnlations and policy, economic issues, the rights and interests of various industry stakeholders and South Australian harvest rates. The views of Aboriginal people were also sought including the significance of kangaroos to Aboriginal people, access to kangaroos for subsistence harvest, kangaroo management and the kangaroo industry. The main findings of this research are presented as a series of peer-reviewed articles: • Article I introduces the research topic and presents preliminary findings of this study. • Article 2 establishes that an increase in South Australia's low harvest rate is needed if kangaroo harvest is to make greater contributions to regional communities, and recommends institutional reform to meet this goal. • Article 3 examines the management regime for kangaroos in South Australia and shows how the informal rules in use are often incongruent with the formal rules established by management administrators. • Article 4 describes the undervalued position of landholders in the kangaroo industry and the obstacles to landholders deriving income from kangaroo harvest. • Article 5 discusses the cultural basis of Aboriginal perspectives on kangaroo harvest and includes suggestions for appropriate ways for Aboriginal people to contribute to kangaroo management. The main findings of this research were applied in a comparative study of kangaroo management with that of moose management in Finland. This study found that similar social and institutional factors impact on the management of moose and kangaroos. The broad lessons for wildlife management drawn from the comparative study are: • mobile wildlife resources require flexible management systems • stakeholder involvement is critical to management • hunters/harvesters are conservative of their resource base • declining harvester numbers need to be addressed through support, incentives and training. These lessons can be applied in part, or in whole, to other overabundant and mobile wildlife species. Thus this thesis makes contribution to kangaroo management by making specific recommendations for the industry, but also contributes to wildlife management in a broader sense through the application of findings to other species.
http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1298303
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

abstract: Since its inception in 1973, the Endangered Species Act has been met with both praise and criticism. More than 40 years later, the Act is still polarizing, with proponents applauding its power to protect species and critics arguing against its perceived ineffectiveness and potential mismanagement. Recovery plans, which were required by the 1988 amendments to the Act, play an important role in organizing efforts to protect and recover species under the Act. In 1999, in an effort to evaluate the process, the Society for Conservation Biology commissioned an independent review of endangered species recovery planning. From these findings, the SCB made key recommendations for how management agencies could improve the recovery planning process, after which the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service redrafted their recovery planning guidelines. One important recommendation called for recovery plans to make threats a primary focus, including organizing and prioritizing recovery tasks for threat abatement. Here, I seek to determine the extent to which SCB recommendations were incorporated into these new guidelines, and if, in turn, the recommendations regarding threats manifested in recovery plans written under the new guidelines. I found that the guidelines successfully incorporated most SCB recommendations, except those that addressed monitoring. As a result, recent recovery plans have improved in their treatment of threats, but still fail to adequately incorporate threat monitoring. This failure suggests that developing clear guidelines for monitoring should be an important priority in future ESA recovery planning.
Dissertation/Thesis
M.S. Biology 2014

The Grand Rapids uplands in central Manitoba is a karst area of intense resource development. Current activities include timber extraction, mineral exploration, a hydro-electric generating station, established and potential hydro-electric transmission lines. Significant features of this karst landscape include 60 known caves, 11 of which provide critical over-wintering habitat for two species of bats, Myotis lucifugus and Myotis septentrionalis and possibly Eptesicus fuscus. The issue that I addressed was how to protect critical wildlife habitat while managing for profitable resource management. Little information existed prior to this study about the bat hibernacula in central Manitoba. Therefore, baseline temperature and relative humidity data were collected every six hours from October 16, 1999 to May 28, 2000 from four bat hibernacula: Firecamp, Iguana Crypt, Microwave and Cutters Cave. Bat activity was also monitored in each cave over the same time period. Cave temperatures were not constant throughout the winter, and were found to be lower than the anticipated mean temperature of 4-5 oC. The overall mean temperature of Cutters Cave was 1.1 oC, Firecamp was 1.7 oC, Microwave was 2.1 oC and Iguana Crypt was the warmest at 4.8 oC. These overall mean temperatures were found to be significantly different using Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The relative humidity sensors may have become saturated, recording questionable readings of relative humidity above 100%. However, the accuracy of the logger was only 4%. The overall mean relative humidities were calculated to be 96% in Firecamp, l00% in Microwave, 103% in both Iguana Crypt and Cutters Cave. The Wildlife Branch of Manitoba Conservation issued Bat Hibernacula Management Guidelines in 1996. These guidelines were reviewed during this study and compared with guidelines for karst, caves or bat hibernacula from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Missouri and Alaska. Once a review of these guidelines was completed, best management practices were determined and recommendations made to government, industry and other stakeholders. Best practices include undertaking a karst management plan for the Grand Rapids area, including a cave inventory and classification system where bat hibernacula would be classified as sensitive habitat. Appropriate management guidelines should be prescribed by an interdisciplinary management committee, which may include prohibiting resource development above or near bat hibernacula (i.e. removed from the commercial land base) as recommended by the BC Ministry of Forests and Alaska Forest Service. The current operating practices of Tolko Industries Ltd., Manitoba Hydro and Falconbridge Ltd. were also reviewed. Currently, only Tolko Industries Ltd. has specific guidelines for working near bat hibernacula, but these are not consistent with guidelines recommended by Manitoba Conservation. Resource developers should endeavor to implement all provincial guidelines. However, in order to ensure protection of karst features such as caves (especially bat hibernacula) Manitoba Conservation should ensure these guidelines are implemented by including them in work permits under The Crown Lands Act and/or drafting them as regulations under the appropriate statute.