Q 1-10 Flashcards
What is wildlife management and how did this field evolve through time?
What is it?
The management of humans, wildlife and environments creating a One Health perspective to benefit all of us
Examples:
- controlling increasing populations (pests, kangaroos) & decreasing (native species, western quolls)
- introducing/rewilding techniques
- controlling disease - surveillance of disease, research, monitoring
- preserving the environment by putting things in place to better protect species/plant species
- monitoring populations to understand them better
What can it achieve?
creates and preserves our biodiversity, boosts economy e.g farming, controls diseases, protects threatened/endangered species, essentially keeps everything balanced
Forever evolving industry as there is always new management strategies needing to be put in place
- species statuses changing e.g become threatened (how can we save them?)
- species numbers can increase, becoming pests e.g cane toad example
- discovering new species through research
- new diseases evolving
- new technologies e.g camera trapping
What is wildlife management? Why do we manage wildlife?
What is it?
The management of humans, wildlife and environments creating a One Health perspective to benefit all of us
Examples:
- controlling increasing populations (pests, kangaroos) & decreasing (native species, western quolls)
- controlling disease
- rewilding/introducing species
- preserving the environment
- monitoring populations to understand them better
What can it achieve?
- creates and preserves our biodiversity
- boosts economy e.g farming, exporting of products
- controls diseases through studying for e.g working towards chlamydiosis atm
- protects threatened/endangered species,
- essentially keeps everything balanced
Discuss what are the economic drivers of pest management in Australia?
What is a pest?
- the term pest can cover any species
- a species that is in the wrong place at the wrong time and causes economical costs, environmental costs, social costs and is associated with animal welfare issues
Live trade industry & national policies
- Australia relies heavily on our trading of products with other countries, therefore following national policies closely is extremely important to enable farmers/buisness’ to make money
- This means having extreme surveillance and biosecurity measures in order to protect the products we export but are also importing
- this way no pests from aus will be introduced interstate but also our biosecurity ensures no pests will be introduced
- strict rules and regulations = least likely to have an outbreak of pests or have licenses taken away from us = continue exporting products = continue making $$
Individual farmers and their jobs
- Pests can heavily influence how much farmers are making = more crops available = more to sell if there’s no pests present
- If products are damaged by pests, this means they will be worth less on the market = loss of income
- lower quantities being produced due to pests will also mean = loss of income
- therefore, the more we manage pests, the more income for people in the farming industry
Society - requirements
- society heavily dictates what management strategies are acceptable vs non acceptable
- this is best explained through examples:
- the concept of tail docking and mulesing to prevent disease such as fly strike (caused by a pest) has become a non acceptable practice within Australian markets
- Eggs is another example, as free-range is huge now and the preferred option when considering welfare, but people forget why we caged chickens in the first place, which was to prevent disease and death that was caused by pests/diseases
- This is also for larger pests too where we’re trying to control population numbers: kangaroos are a lovable AUS animal and population controlling can be seen as cruel
Industries in AUS
- certain industries in AUS closely regulate how pest management works here and therefore determine what type of management is being put in place
- for e.g, the cotton industry has a massive influence on what chemicals are being used and when to help prevent insecticide resistance
Please define and give example of keystone species, endemic species, invasive species and flagship species
keystone:
- defines an ecosystem (plant, animal, microorganism) and it wouldn’t survive without it.
- without it (whether due to predators, climate change, natural disaster, disease) the likeliness of it being able to be replaced is low. therefore, there’d be an imbalance which can lead to population numbers increasing/decreasing or evolving disease
- Bees are an example: pollinate our plants therefore ensure our food security/livestock/wildlife eat too (keeping everyone alive)
Endemic:
- limited to a particular area (can be plant, animal, microorganism) & key to ecosystem survival, like keystones
- small populations usually = prone to extinction
- Aus has a variety: koalas, ring tail possums, eatern grey kangaroos, tassie devils
Invasive:
- not native to the area it’s found in: accidentally introduced or on purpose
- means they: adapt to new area easily, reproduce fast and lots of offspring, causing economic harm or harm to other species
- Example: Cane toads introduced to control pests, became one themselves
Flagship:
- handpicked by humans to boost biodiversity and conservation
- can raise awareness to damaged ecosystems, or spread a message
- example: polar bears, whenever we think of them we get a specific picture in our heads on them floating on a piece of ice. raising awareness therefore on climate change and how they have a poorer quality of life due to this (less places to rest, to hunt, mate)
- other e.g’s: clownfish = nemo = saving our marine life, elephants, tigers, pandas
Define the One Health Concept and give an example.
- An approach that considers humans, animals and the environment.
- It’s understanding that the health of us humans can impact animals, but also the health of animals impacts human health
- also understanding we are all interconnected through us, and the environment
why do we need the approach?
- important concept because we all live together/work together, especially with human populations increasing, living closer with animals & more movement = spread of zoonotic disease
- Earth changing = climate change = populations changing, disease spreading
Example of how humans/animals/environments are connected:
- deforestation & human movement = animals loss of habitats = animals forced to migrate
- living in closer proximity with these animals
- can lead to diseases spreading
Example of zoonotic disease that caused One Health approach: Hendra virus
- Rare detections in humans but sparked a reaction
- zoonotic disease spreads from flying foxes = horses = humans
- flying fox drops faeces and seeds over horse paddock = virus present in horse environment - people come into contact with infected horse = resp and neuro signs
- the one health approach therefore surveillance of disease, keep environment clean, not having trees/water to attract flying foxes & vaccine
What is the the role of the IUCN? List the categories established by the IUCN in order of increasing threat
- International Union for Conservation of Nature
- comprised of government bodies & civil society organizations
- global authority - provides info on current status of plants/animal species and how to protect
What they do:
- tackle global issues: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution to provide solutions
- provide info regarding conservation best practice to protect species and consider animal welfare
- Most importantly to protect species from extinction
Red list:
- provides info on current status of particular plant/animal species
- species range, population sizes, habitats, use & trade = how can we help
- anyone can access it, therefore anyone can read it, provides guidance on how to minimise risk factors
- Not evaluated
- Data deficient: inadequate information, cant make a certain decision regarding the status of the animal
- Least concern: it has been evaluated and data is clear, but doesn’t fit other categories
- Near threatened: close to fitting other criteria and most likely will be moved into another criteria in the future
- Vulnerable: facing a high risk of extinction in the wild
- Endangered: facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild
- Critically endangered: facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
- Extinct in the wild: failed to record an individual in the wild during breeding seasons/expected habitats and therefore is only known to survive in captivity
- Extinct: there is no doubt at all that the last individual of this species has died – failed to record an individual in the wild as well as none surviving in captivity
*more info provided on PDF file
What is the CITES? Describe the different categories/appendices.
CITES = Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
WHo are they?
- international agreement between government bodies
Their aim:
- ensure safe international trade of plants/animals (won’t threaten species)
- won’t cause habitat loss, spread disease, decline population numbers, so offer protection
- includes transport of goods e.g leather, fur coats, wooden items, medicines, live exporting
the Appendices (I, II, III) contains a list of species and their varying types of protection
I: protects species that are considered endangered and threatened with extinction, therefore CITES dont allow international trade. unless beneficial e.g research but requires import/export permit. also very closely monitored. e.g gorillas/elephants
II: species that aren’t threatened, but still require close monitoring and control trading as the status can change. doesn’t require an importing permit, only exporting. permit will only be granted if certain needs/conditions are met as survival cannot be put at risk. E.g hippos/otters
III: species that are already being traded/controlled by a party. every country must cooperate to avoid exploiting the animal which can affect population numbers.
note species statuses can change, can become threatened and therefore move between appendices.
Describe in detail at least 3 ecosystem services provided by wild species.
Dingoes: pest control
- although seen as a pest themselves (calves, sheep, spread disease) they control pests
- diet = small mammals = rabbits = keeping population numbers down
- also predator of feral goats (can be seen as good or bad)
- also hunt feral cats and foxes = save native species e.g quoll
Quoll: pest control
- also diet consists of rabbits = dingoes & quolls work together to keep numbers down
- why they were reintroduced to FR
Bats: pollination, seed dispersal & pest control
- pollinate particular plant species that cannot survive without them, therefore boosting our biodiversity
- disperse seeds from trees/plants from one area to another where they then germinate and grow. great to boost our biodiversity in plant species and replace deforestation
- pest control as they feed on insects that can cause crop damage, therefore boosting the economy and less work for farmers
insectivores:
- animals such as reptiles, amphibians, birds and bats feed on insects = damage control for crops
soil engineers:
- animals that dig and turnover soil = enhance soil health
- native rodents, reptiles, wombats, bilbies
Beaver: water storage (provide habitats), purify water, mitigate flood risks
- by building dams, providing new habitats for animals to live in such as amphibians, birds, insects = promoting biodiversity
- mitigate flood risks by holding water within the dams and allowing the water to slowly release
Describe the aims, regulations, strategies and challenges of kangaroo population management in South Australia.
“in AUS kangaroos have a major impact on our ecosystems causing great concern. the most common kangaroos are Red, Western & Eastern greys.”
Why have the numbers increased?
- Low amount of competition e.g predators (usually dingo)
How do they affect Aus?
- affecting ecosystems: compete for water/food with other native animals, damage fencing, damage crops
- public concern: oppose a threat to people on the road
Aim of control:
- reduce population to reduce conflicts between them and our environments, to protect people/other species and provide more water/food
Strategies:
- exclusion fencing & limiting water access = less likely to migrate to unwanted areas BUT costly, time consuming, can lead to behavioural issues (so many in one space) & starvation
- fertility control? could only see in NSW/VIC not sure in SA
- Humane killing of kangaroos and young if found in pouch: humane if done correctly (headshot) as they die quickly and can keep track of numbers and reduce population fast. These killing methods are heavily regulated by ACTS and therefore only professionals can do it
challenges:
- public perception: lovable Aus animals. some control methods will be seen as inhumane
- mitigate this ^ through public awareness, show what they’re doing to surrounding environments
- some methods can be costly/time consuming e.g exclusion fencing with setting up/maintenance
- Animal welfare: are all these options humane? are there other ways we can control populations
Describe in detail two wildlife-human conflicts and the solutions developed to mitigate those conflicts.
Australian White ibis:
- known as the bin chicken with their white body and black head and neck
- found hanging around in parks, middle of the city, and are a constant emerging issue as they’re constantly found in new areas e.g Cleland Wildlife Park
- Public concern due to noise and odour, dirtying water, spread rubbish, aggressive, health concern by carrying disease
- Management: nest removal or lethal management, making sites less attractive, scaring them, public education (dont feed)
- Egg oiling really effective: spraying eggs with oil which clogs egg pores = can’t hatch: great reproduction control but also changes behaviour of bird
Little corellas
- Native parrot that form loud noisy flocks
- By building and expanding agricultural land, this has lead to creating ideal environments for the birds to live in by providing plenty of food/water
- Causing environmental damage to trees by essentially stripping them, therefore lots of tree debris and high amounts of faecal matter in public spaces
- Social issues too: super loud birds, disrupting the public especially in mornings. Tying in with economical issues, causing damage to infrastructure (sports fields e.g) and other buildings.
- The goal of controlling this species is to reduce their impacts
- To control corellas have to understand their behaviour such as seaonsal movements, daily movements, feeding habits, number of flocks, flight paths, what’s attracting these birds to this particular area?
- By doing this, can change bird behaviour and try and get them to migrate to a different area
- Non-lethal management: scaring them, visual deterrents, landscape alternation
- Lethal management: shooting, trap and gas
