Peles / Wright The Allegheny Woodrat

Ecology, Conservation, and Management of a Declining Species
1. Auflage 2008
ISBN: 978-0-387-36051-5
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 234 Seiten

A decline in populations of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) was first noticed in the 1980s. Since that time, woodrats have become extirpated from at least two states and have declined dramatically in several others. Recent evidence suggests that the decline of this species may be proceeding further south to include states where woodrat populations were previously considered to be stable. The Allegheny Woodrat: Ecology, Conservation, and Management of a Declining Species provides a comprehensive summary of research conducted over the past twenty-five years. The book integrates the results of this research into a comprehensive picture of the ecological requirements, conservation principles, and management strategies for this declining species. In addition, general principles learned from the study of woodrats are applied to the conservation and management of other declining species, including other species of Neotoma. The editors and chapter authors are researchers from both academic settings and state management agencies, individuals who have contributed significantly to the study of Allegheny woodrats during the past two decades. The book will be of interest to ecologists, conservation biologists, wildlife professionals, and students.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wright, Janet

Peles, John

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Foreword;7
2;Preface;9
3;Contents;11
4;Contributors;13
5;Section I History and Current Status;15
5.1;1 History and Current Status of the Allegheny Woodrat;16
5.1.1; Introduction;16
5.1.2; Early Recognition: Extant or Extinct?;17
5.1.3; Mid-1900s: The Sinking of N. magister;21
5.1.4; Molecular Approaches and the Re-establishment of N. magister;24
5.1.5; Determining Current Status;25
5.1.6; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;30
5.2;2 Multiple Causes of the Allegheny Woodrat Decline: A Historical-Ecological Examination;36
5.2.1; Introduction;36
5.2.2; Decline of the Allegheny Woodrat;37
5.2.3; Hypotheses to Explain the Decline;39
5.2.3.1; Food Decline Hypothesis;39
5.2.3.2; Habitat Fragmentation/Destruction Hypothesis;42
5.2.3.3; Parasite Hypothesis;43
5.2.3.4; Historical--Ecological Hypothesis;46
5.2.4; Hypothetical Chronology;46
5.2.5; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;49
6;Section II Ecology;55
6.1;3 Woodrat Population Dynamics and Movement Patterns;57
6.1.1; Introduction;57
6.1.2; Movements and Dispersal;58
6.1.3; Survival;63
6.1.4; Reproductive Parameters;65
6.1.5; Population Trends and Factors Affecting Demography and Survival;66
6.1.6; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;70
6.2;4 Home Range, Movements, and Habitat Selection;75
6.2.1; Introduction;75
6.2.2; Home Range Size and Foraging Movements;75
6.2.3; Habitat Selection;78
6.2.4; Local Habitat Disturbance and Conservation of the Species;81
6.2.5; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;82
6.3;5 Den Use Behavior of Allegheny Woodrats Inhabiting Rock Outcrops in Pennsylvania;86
6.3.1; Introduction;86
6.3.2; Short-Term Study of Den Use;87
6.3.2.1; Study Sites;87
6.3.2.2; Methods;88
6.3.3; Multi-Year Studies of Den Use;89
6.3.4; Results and Discussion;89
6.3.4.1; Live-Trapping;89
6.3.4.2; Den Locations;90
6.3.4.3; Quantity and Quality of Den Sites;92
6.3.4.4; Den Fidelity and Behavior;93
6.3.5; Influence of Behavior on Population Dynamics;96
6.3.5.1; A Proposed Model;96
6.3.5.2; Testing the Model;98
6.3.6; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;99
6.4;6 Food Selection and Caching Behavior;103
6.4.1; Introduction;103
6.4.2; Description of Food Habits;103
6.4.3; Caching Behavior;110
6.4.4; Disturbance of Food Resources as Potential Factors for Population Decline;111
6.4.5; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;112
7;Section III Conservation and Management;117
7.1;7 Lessons from Long-Term Monitoring of Woodrat Populations;119
7.1.1; Introduction;119
7.1.2; Pennsylvania Program;121
7.1.3; Maryland Program;125
7.1.4; Indiana Program;131
7.1.5; Virginia Program;134
7.1.6; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;139
7.2;8 Managing Surface Rock Communities for Neotoma magister;143
7.2.1; Introduction;143
7.2.2; Definitions for Neotoma Populations and Habitat;144
7.2.2.1; Surface Rock Communities;144
7.2.2.2; Activity Center;145
7.2.2.3; Habitat Site;145
7.2.2.4; Metapopulation Area;145
7.2.3; Management Issues and Recommendations;146
7.2.3.1; Monitoring Habitat and Populations;147
7.2.3.1.1; Recommendations;148
7.2.3.2; Forest Fragmentation;148
7.2.3.2.1; Recommendations;151
7.2.3.3; Food Availability and Quality;152
7.2.3.3.1; Recommendations;154
7.2.3.4; Dispersal and Translocation;155
7.2.3.4.1; Recommendations;155
7.2.3.5; Surface Rock Community Management;156
7.2.3.5.1; Recommendations;156
7.2.4; Conservation and Management of Declining Species: Shared Stewardship;157
7.2.5; Appendix: Guidelines for Identifying Priority Habitat Sites for Protection;162
7.3;9 Genetic Diversity of Woodrats: Implications for Conservation;163
7.3.1; Introduction;163
7.3.2; Genetic Susceptibility of Small Populations;163
7.3.3; Genetics of Allegheny Woodrats;165
7.3.3.1; Mitochondrial DNA Studies;166
7.3.3.2; Nuclear DNA Studies;166
7.3.4; Genetics of Indiana's Allegheny Woodrat Population: A Case Study;169
7.3.5; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;173
7.4;10 Reintroduction of Woodrats: Concepts and Applications;178
7.4.1; Introduction;178
7.4.2; Preliminary Assessments;180
7.4.3; Implementation;182
7.4.3.1; Pre-translocation Phase;182
7.4.3.1.1; Reintroduction Site Selection;183
7.4.3.1.2; Source of Animals;186
7.4.3.1.3; Number of Animals;187
7.4.3.1.4; Human Dimensions;189
7.4.3.2; Translocation Phase;191
7.4.3.2.1; Capture and Handling;191
7.4.3.2.2; Considerations for Capture and Restraint;193
7.4.3.2.3; Release Strategies;193
7.4.3.3; Post-translocation Phase;194
7.4.3.3.1; Evaluation and Monitoring;194
7.4.4; Conservation and Management of Declining Species;196
7.5;11 Status and Conservation of Other At-Risk Species of North American Woodrats;201
7.5.1; Introduction;201
7.5.2; Current Woodrat Classification;201
7.5.3; Woodrats and Rarity;203
7.5.4; Federal and State-Listed Woodrat Species;203
7.5.4.1; Baja California Island Endemics;203
7.5.4.2; The Riparian Woodrat;205
7.5.4.3; The Key Largo Woodrat;205
7.5.5; Woodrats in Southern Illinois;206
7.5.5.1; Background;206
7.5.5.2; Reintroduction Efforts;207
7.5.6; Conservation and Management of Declining Woodrat Species;209
7.5.6.1; Reasons for Decline;209
7.5.6.2; Recovery and Management;210
7.5.6.2.1; Population Management;210
7.5.6.2.2; Habitat Management;211
7.5.6.2.3; Human Dimensions;211
8;Section IV Synthesis;215
8.1;12 Synthesis: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future;216
8.1.1; Introduction;216
8.1.2; Decline of the Allegheny Woodrat;217
8.1.2.1; Lessons Learned;217
8.1.2.2; Recommendations;218
8.1.3; Ecology of the Allegheny Woodrat;219
8.1.3.1; Lessons Learned;219
8.1.3.2; Recommendations;223
8.1.4; Genetics of the Allegheny Woodrat;224
8.1.4.1; Lessons Learned;224
8.1.4.2; Recommendations;225
8.1.5; Conservation and Management Tools;226
8.1.5.1; Lessons Learned;226
8.1.5.2; Recommendations;227
9;Index;232