Large Carnivores And The Conservation Of Biodiversity

by RAY, JUSTINA C.; Redford, Kent H.; STENECK, ROBERT S.; Berger, Joel

• ISBN13: 9781559630801
• ISBN10: 1559630809
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-01
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity brings together more than thirty leading scientists and conservation practitioners to consider a key question in environmental conservation: Is the conservation of large carnivores in ecosystems that evolved with their presence equivalent to the conservation of biological diversity within those systems? Building their discussions from empirical, long-term data sets, contributors including James A. Estes, David S. Maehr, Tim McClanahan, Andr's J. Novaro, John Terborgh, and Rosie Woodroffe explore a variety of issues surrounding the link between predation and biodiversity: What is the evidence for or against the link? Is it stronger in marine systems? What are the implications for conservation strategies? Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity is the first detailed, broad-scale examination of the empirical evidence regarding the role of large carnivores in biodiversity conservation in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It contributes to a much more precise and global understanding of when, where, and whether protecting and restoring top predators will directly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Everyone concerned with ecology, biodiversity, or large carnivores will find this volume a unique and thought-provoking analysis and synthesis.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
CHAPTER 1 Introduction: How to Value Large Carnivorous Animals	1	(6)
Kent H. Redford
PART I Setting the Stage	7	(50)
CHAPTER 2 An Ecological Context for the Role of Large Carnivores in Conserving Biodiversity	9	(25)
Robert S. Steneck
"The World Is Green" Revolution	10	(1)
Paradigm Gained-Predation as a Structuring Process	11	(4)
Top-Down Forces in Food Webs: Keystones to Trophic Cascades	15	(2)
Variability of Trophic Cascades	17	(6)
Do Marine Systems Have the Strongest Trophic Cascades?	23	(3)
Why Big Fierce Animals Are Rare: Top-Down Vulnerability and Chronically Sliding Baselines	26	(4)
Conserving Biodiversity	30	(2)
Summary	32	(2)
CHAPTER 3 Large Carnivorous Animals as Tools for Conserving Biodiversity: Assumptions and Uncertainties	34	(23)
Justina C. Ray
Large Carnivorous Animals as Conservation Tools	37	(8)
Assumptions Underlying the Use of Large Carnivores as Conservation Tools	45	(3)
Testing the Assumptions behind Using Large Carnivores as Conservation Tools	48	(5)
Conservation Implications: Large Carnivorous Animals in Conservation Practice	53	(2)
Summary	55	(2)
PART II The Scientific Context for Understanding the Role of Predation	57	(120)
CHAPTER 4 Carnivory and Trophic Connectivity in Kelp Forests	61	(21)
James A. Estes
The Sea Otter-Kelp Forest Ecosystem	63	(11)
Implications for Other Species and Ecosystems	74	(4)
Implications for Conservation and Management	78	(2)
Summary	80	(2)
CHAPTER 5 The Green World Hypothesis Revisited	82	(18)
John Terborgh
Tests of the Plant Self-Defense Hypothesis	84	(4)
Predator Exclusion Experiments	88	(6)
Nature Reduced to an Artifact	94	(3)
Conservation Recommendations	97	(1)
Summary	97	(3)
CHAPTER 6 Restoring Functionality in Yellowstone with Recovering Carnivores: Gains and Uncertainties	100	(10)
Joel Berger and Douglas W. Smith
Ecology in Yellowstone National Park with and without Wolves	101	(6)
Ecology beyond Yellowstone National Park with and without Wolves	107	(1)
Summary	108	(2)
CHAPTER 7 Large Marine Carnivores: Trophic Cascades and Top-Down Controls in Coastal Ecosystems Past and Present	110	(28)
Robert S. Steneck and Enric Sala
Predation Theory and Evidence of Effects	111	(1)
We Eat Large Marine Carnivores: Fisheries-Induced Declines in Predator Abundance	112	(4)
Evidence for Past and Present Top-Down Predator Effects Altering Trophic Cascades in Major Benthic Marine Ecosystems	116	(16)
Evidence from Other Marine Ecosystems	132	(2)
General Consequences of the Loss of Large Carnivores, and Implications for Conservation	134	(2)
Summary	136	(2)
CHAPTER 8 Forest Ecosystems without Carnivores: When Ungulates Rule the World	138	(16)
William J. McShea
Extent of the Problem of High-Density Ungulate Populations	138	(4)
Ungulate Effects on Biodiversity	142	(5)
Is There Evidence That Reducing Ungulate Density Restores Biodiversity?	147	(1)
Hunters versus Large Carnivores	148	(2)
Conservation Recommendations	150	(2)
Summary	152	(2)
CHAPTER 9 King of the Beasts? Evidence for Guild Redundancy among Large Mammalian Carnivores	154	(23)
Rosie Woodroffe and Joshua R. Ginsberg
Large Carnivore Assemblages and the Forces That Structure Them	159	(1)
When Guilds Collapse: Rules for the Disassembly of Large Carnivore Assemblages	160	(2)
Guild Redundancy and Compensation	162	(7)
Conserving Complete Large Carnivore Guilds in Fragmented Landscapes: Some Complex and Surprising Predictions	169	(3)
Conclusions and Conservation Recommendations	172	(2)
Summary	174	(3)
PART III From Largely Intact to Human-Dominated Systems: Insight on the Role of Predation Derived from Long-Term Studies	177	(112)
CHAPTER 10 Tigers and Wolves in the Russian Far East: Competitive Exclusion, Functional Redundancy, and Conservation Implications	179	(29)
Dale G. Miquelle, Philip A. Stephens, Evgeny N. Smirnov, John M. Goodrich, Olga J. Zaumyslova, and Alexander E. Myslenkov
Study Areas	180	(2)
Data Analysis and Modeling Methods	182	(4)
Research Findings	186	(14)
Competitive Exclusion and Functional Redundancy in Tigers and Wolves	200	(3)
Conservation Implications	203	(2)
Summary	205	(3)
CHAPTER 11 Large Carnivores and Biodiversity in African Savanna Ecosystems	208	(22)
M.G.L. Mills
Study Areas	209	(3)
Predator-Prey Relationships in Various Systems	212	(11)
Intraguild Relationships	223	(1)
Biodiversity Implications of Large Carnivore Ecology	223	(2)
Conserving Carnivores and Carnivory in Ecosystems	225	(2)
Ecosystems without Carnivores and Other Conservation Implications	227	(1)
Summary	228	(2)
CHAPTER 12 Large Carnivores and Ungulates in European Temperate Forest Ecosystems: Bottom-Up and Top-Down Control	230	(17)
Bogumila Jedrzejewska and Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski
Biatowieza Primeval Forest: Study Area and Methods	231	(2)
Wolf and Lynx Predation on Ungulates	233	(3)
Long-Term Data on Large Carnivores and Ungulates	236	(4)
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Forces in Diverse Guilds of Predators and Prey	240	(2)
Trophic Cascades: Indirect Effects of Large Carnivores on Forest Ecosystems	242	(2)
Conservation Implications	244	(1)
Summary	245	(2)
CHAPTER 13 Recovery of Carnivores, Trophic Cascades, and Diversity in Coral Reef Marine Parks	247	(21)
Tim R. McClanahan
Statement of the Problem	249	(1)
Study Sites and History of the Coral Reef Parks	249	(2)
Field Sampling and Data Analysis	251	(3)
Research Findings	254	(7)
Discussion	261	(3)
Conservation Recommendations and Concluding Thoughts	264	(2)
Summary	266	(2)
CHAPTER 14 Human-Induced Changes in the Effect of Top Carnivores on Biodiversity in the Patagonian Steppe	268	(21)
Andrés J. Novaro and R. Susan Walker
Native Carnivore and Prey Communities of the Patagonian Steppe	269	(2)
Human Impact on Patagonian Wildlife	271	(2)
Effects on Wildlife of Reduction of Sheep and Hunting	273	(3)
Possible Top-Down Control of Native Herbivores by Pumas and Culpeos	276	(6)
Predation as a Potential Threat to Wildlife Conservation in Patagonia	282	(2)
Conservation Recommendations	284	(3)
Concluding Thoughts: How Unique Is the Patagonian Example?	287	(1)
Summary	287	(2)
PART IV Achieving Conservation and Management Goals through Focus on Large Carnivorous Animals	289	(140)
CHAPTER 15 Large Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores in South Florida: An Evolutionary Approach to Conserving Landscapes and Biodiversity	293	(22)
David S. Maehr, Michael A. Orlando, and John J. Cox
Study Area	295	(2)
The Bear and the Weevil	297	(4)
Fetid Predators and Deer	301	(5)
Wolves and Big Cypress Deer	306	(3)
The Challenge to Managers	309	(4)
Summary	313	(2)
CHAPTER 16 Hunting by Carnivores and Humans: Does Functional Redundancy Occur and Does It Matter?	315	(27)
Joel Berger
Limitations of Approach	316	(1)
Current Overlap between Hunting Humans and Carnivores	317	(2)
Predictions: Concordance in Effects of Human and Carnivore Hunting	319	(18)
Conservation Recommendations: Functionality in Systems with Carnivores and Humans	337	(3)
Summary	340	(2)
CHAPTER 17 Detecting Top-Down versus Bottom-Up Regulation of Ungulates by Large Carnivores: Implications for Conservation of Biodiversity	342	(20)
R. Terry Bowyer, David K. Person, and Becky M. Pierce
Conceptual Models of Predator-Prey Dynamics	344	(2)
Failure to Consider Effects of K	346	(3)
Prey to Predator Ratios	349	(2)
Kill Rates	351	(3)
A Prey-Based Approach for Understanding Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processes	354	(4)
Future Directions for Predator-Prey Modeling	358	(1)
Linking Predator-Prey Dynamics to Ecosystem Processes and Biodiversity	359	(1)
Summary	360	(2)
CHAPTER 18 Top Carnivores and Biodiversity Conservation in the Boreal Forest	362	(19)
Stan Boutin
The Boreal Forest Context	364	(2)
How Do Carnivores Affect the Boreal Forest?	366	(11)
Top Carnivores as Umbrellas for Biodiversity	377	(1)
A Biodiversity Conservation Approach Focused on Maintaining the Range of Natural Variability	378	(1)
Summary	379	(2)
CHAPTER 19 The Linkage between Conservation Strategies for Large Carnivores and Biodiversity: The View from the "Half-Full" Forests of Europe	381	(19)
John D.C. Linnell, Christoph Promberger, Luigi Boitani, Jon E. Swenson, Urs Breitenmoser, and Reidar Andersen
The Nature of Biodiversity	382	(1)
Europe: A Continent Shaped by Humans	382	(4)
European Large Carnivore Populations	386	(3)
Goals for Large Carnivore Conservation in Europe	389	(5)
How Does Conserving Carnivores Conserve Biodiversity in Europe?	394	(2)
Is Europe Unique?	396	(1)
Conservation Recommendations	397	(1)
Summary	398	(2)
CHAPTER 20 Conclusion: Is Large Carnivore Conservation Equivalent to Biodiversity Conservation and How Can We Achieve Both?	400	(29)
Justina C. Ray, Kent H. Redford, Joel Berger, and Robert Steneck
Framing the Question	401	(1)
The Link between Large Carnivorous Animals and Biodiversity	401	(2)
Where There Is Strong Evidence for Biodiversity Impacts through Predation by Large Carnivorous Animals	403	(2)
Where the Evidence Is Less Compelling or Absent	405	(4)
Unknowns and Unknowable	409	(2)
Is Carnivore Conservation Compatible with Biodiversity Conservation?	411	(4)
Large Carnivores as Conservation Tools	415	(4)
Conservation Recommendations: Achieving Carnivore and Biodiversity Conservation	419	(6)
Concluding Thoughts	425	(1)
Summary	426	(3)
References	429	(80)
List of Contributors	509	(3)
Index	512