This thesis aims to achieve a better understanding of: (1) theoretical aspects of humannature relationships; and (2) socio-political dimensions of nature conservation practices. It is the result of social scientific research, and employs, on the basis of a ‘moderate’ social constructivist frame, a multi- (and partly inter-) disciplinary approach. Within the central theme of nature conservation, the concept of wilderness is used as a lens for study, with a specific research focus on ‘rewilding’ and ‘animal reintroduction’ in Scotland and the Netherlands. In the overarching context of the two central research aims, the four main chapters in this work have been developed, and are presented, as stand-alone parts. With respect to research aim 1, the relationship between rewilding and animal reintroduction is examined (Chapter 2). The main finding is that if animal reintroduction, as part of rewilding, is understood and implemented in a tentative manner, it can be an inspiring example of an essentially non-controlling human interaction with nature. Chapter 5 is a cultural-historical exploration of the concept of wilderness and of a Dutch national park. It establishes that paradoxes are an important element in the Western fascination with wilderness, and they are therefore an essential focus if contemporary societies want to restore their relationship with the wild. With regard to research aim 2, a discourse analysis is conducted of documents supporting animal reintroductions (Chapter 3). A crucial finding is that rhetoric and argumentation, in expert documents that inform environmental decision-making, become increasingly ‘reflexive’. In Chapter 4, political decision-making on Scottish animal reintroductions is researched in the light of late-modern governance shifts. It is found that these new modes of governance can actually undermine the very democratic principles that they seek to implement in the first place.

<p>Camera trapping studies often focus on estimating population density, which is critical for managing wild populations. Density estimators typically require unique markers such as stripe patterns to identify individuals but most animals do not have such markings. The spatial capture model (SC model; Chandler & Royle, 2013) estimates density without individual identification but lacks sufficient field testing. Here, both the SC model and calibrated capture rate indices were compared against ten sessions of live trapping data on kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp). These camera and live trapping data were combined in a joint-likelihood model to further compare the two methods. From these comparisons, the factors governing the SC model?s success were scrutinized. Additionally, a method for estimating missed captures was developed and tested here. Regressions comparing live trapping density to the SC model density and capture rate were significant only for the capture rate comparison. Missed image rate had a significant relationship with ambient nighttime temperatures but only marginally improved the capture rate index calibration. Results showed the SC model was highly sensitive to deviations from its movement model, producing potentially misleading results. The model may be effective only when movement assumptions hold. Several factors such as camera coverage area, microhabitat, and burrow locations could be incorporated into the SC model density estimation process to improve precision and inference.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, 2017 / The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of South Africa’s most endangered carnivores. The species has suffered massive range shrinkages in the past few decades and population numbers have dropped significantly. Along with other factors responsible for its decline, one of the most notable threats to the African wild dog is conflict with humans. These carnivores are often persecuted by farmers for their alleged depredation of livestock and captive-bred game species, although doubt exists as to whether wild dogs are the avid depredators as suggested. My research therefore aimed to investigate the conflict between people and African wild dog, focussing on livestock depredation. Due to heterogeneous farming landscapes, the history and location of protected areas and the endangered status of the African wild dog, South Africa provides many opportunities to study this particular type of human-carnivore conflict. Firstly, I conducted a meta-analysis of human-carnivore conflict using published literature about African wild dog depredation of livestock and game and compared these to other African carnivores as well as non-African carnivores. Results indicated that African wild dog were less avid depredators than other African species such as lion (Panthera leo) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Also evident was that high carnivore and livestock densities, coupled with poor communities with poor livestock husbandry practices, make people and carnivores in developing regions more vulnerable to human-carnivore conflicts. Secondly, I assessed actual African wild dog occurrence in relation to the location of farms, livestock density and several other anthropogenic and natural landscape features. This was achieved using GPS data from four collared African wild dog individuals from packs residing in the northeastern part of South Africa and resource selection functions. Results from these analyses suggested that, whilst African wild dog may occur in close proximity to farms, they established home ranges in areas of low livestock density and few farms, indicating predictive avoidance of areas where mortality may occur. Major roads were highlighted as a vulnerability for the African wild dog, whilst nature reserves and vegetation were also important predictors of wild dog occurrence. Other anthropogenic and natural landscape features varied in importance in determining wild dog occurrence. Knowledge about how the African wild dog selects its resources will enable us to identify vulnerabilities for these carnivores as well as areas where they are likely to occur, aiding in conservation planning. Though African wild dog have historically been reported to kill livestock such goats and cattle, my study seems to indicate that these carnivores are not avid stock-killers. Given the precarious survival status of the African wild dog and the food security needs of people in a developing region strongly suggests the need for cooperation of farmers and the education of communities to aid the recovery of this uniquely African carnivore. / XL2018

Forensic investigators encountering remains deposited in an outdoor environment face many obstacles, including the scavenging, scattering, and reconcentration of remains by local vertebrate fauna. Scattering rates can vary considerably from region to region, and are highly dependent on the indigenous scavengers present (Haglund et al. 1988; Haglund et al. 1989; Mann et al. 1990; Morton and Lord 2006). In turn, scavenger activity is highly dependent on seasonal changes, rainfall, temperature fluctuations, and environmental stressors such as seasonal resource availability and dietary changes (Brown et al. 2006; Mann et al. 1990; O’Brien et al. 2007). A more thorough knowledge of the variation in scavenging and scattering patterns of the indigenous fauna in different geographical regions would produce a more productive search pattern and increase the recovery rate of scattered remains for those involved in outdoor crime scene investigations. The current study followed and documented the behavior of the indigenous carnivorous birds and mammals, as well as the scattering patterns of these species, in Eastern Massachusetts, using five porcine (Sus scrofa) carcasses. Carcasses were deposited in lightly wooded environments under different depositional settings and tracked by low-light wildlife video cameras and radio transmitter tags attached to the long bones of some of the limbs. The major scavengers of decomposing remains were documented, and the distance and direction of scattered skeletal elements were noted, as well as any secondary depositions. This research was conducted in three phases; the first was a preliminary observation of faunal wildlife and their distribution during the early summer of 2011, followed by one 14-week observation of porcine models during midsummer of 2011 and one 6-week observation of porcine models during late summer and early fall of 2011. Results show that seasonality greatly affects scavenging activity, as carrion deposited in the summer are primarily consumed by the indigenous invertebrate community, causing accelerated decomposition and vertebrate scavenger exclusion. Additionally, though marsupials and avian species fed the longest, coyotes (Canis latrans) produced the most destructive dispersal of carrion. Moreover, although coyotes disarticulated carcasses relatively nearby the original deposition, they sought out outdoor environments that are mostly devoid of human activity to feed upon disarticulated assemblages.

Management of deer populations is directed toward multiple objectives. Deer populations on public and private lands belong to the public and thus management is a political process. Four components for an effective management system for deer populations are identified. These are the set of objectives relating to the resource, the set of regulations which will achieve the objectives, knowledge of the expected population response to alternative management strategies, and a means of monitoring these responses to determine whether or not the objectives are being achieved. Deer provide benefits mainly through the associated recreational opportunities and cause costs by interacting with land based economic activities such as agricultural crop production and reforestation. At certain times of the year deer may also compete with domestic livestock for forage. Deer also cause significant costs through collisions with automobiles on the highways. The extent of these benefits and costs, and others, is related to the biosystem through parameters such as the size and composition of the population, the extent of the hunting kill, and so on. In this thesis a computer simulation model of the Mendocino County, California, deer population is presented. The population is modeled as a density dependent birth and death process. Hunting strategies are potentially the most flexible management tool. Thus the model is structured to permit detailed examination of the response over time of the population to alternative hunting strategies. In California, a bucks-only hunting strategy has been followed since about the turn of the century. This study demonstrates that the bucks-only strategy neither effectively controls the size of the deer population, nor does it provide for the greatest recreational opportunities. The extent of the costs referred to above are directly related to the size of the population and the consumptive recreational benefits, that is those due to hunting, are directly related to the size of the hunting kill. Experiments with the model show that population control can be achieved and the hunting kill can be increased by a mixed buck and antlerless deer hunting strategy. Other results show that the computer simulation model can provide information about the biosystem which is not otherwise available. Simulation methods permit considerable insights into the operation and control of complex biosystems where the status of the systems is time dependent and the systems are influenced by uncontrollable elements so that at best the outcomes resulting from particular management actions are uncertain. The simulation model used in this study is applicable to other deer populations and other wildlife species. / Graduation date: 1972

There is an inherent conflict over land use between humans and wildlife. Human activities can alter habitat, creating pressure on North American large carnivore populations. Traditional wildlife techniques can be slow to show population declines, especially in long lived species with slow reproduction rates and high mortality of young, such as grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), which leads to delayed information for land managers trying to find the balance between human use of land and preservation of wildlife. Concern about population health of grizzlies in Western Alberta, Canada has lead to investigation of the impacts of current land use within grizzly bear habitat. The objective of this work was to develop a protein microarray that could detect patterns of physiological stress in a rapid manner with small samples of grizzly bear tissue. Sampling from four regions in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta resulted in the capture of 133 bears. During the developmental phase, proteins involved with mitochondrial function were found, using two dimensional gel electrophoresis, to be altered in situations of increased stress. Limited cross-reactivity was found when evaluating grizzly bear stress protein expression using commercially available protein microarrays. The protein microarray developed in this thesis consists of 31commercial antibodies validated for grizzly bears. These antibodies recognize proteins associated with different aspects of the stress response, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, apoptosis/cell cycle, cellular stress, and oxidative stress and inflammation. Skin was selected as the tissue for evaluation of protein expression. Strong correlations were found between many of the proteins within functional categories. Model selection for the protein categories revealed variation that corresponded with region, serum markers of stress (total cortisol and hsp60), growth, the density of roads in the habitat and the amount of anthropogenic change in the bears home range. Regional trends of expression found bears in Swan Hills and bears from North highway 16 having elevated expression of the proteins measured by the microarray. The protein microarray was thus able to detect expression patterns reflecting physiological and environmental markers. The array shows great promise for future use in detection of potential distress in wildlife populations due to alterations of their habitat.

There is an inherent conflict over land use between humans and wildlife. Human activities can alter habitat, creating pressure on North American large carnivore populations. Traditional wildlife techniques can be slow to show population declines, especially in long lived species with slow reproduction rates and high mortality of young, such as grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), which leads to delayed information for land managers trying to find the balance between human use of land and preservation of wildlife. Concern about population health of grizzlies in Western Alberta, Canada has lead to investigation of the impacts of current land use within grizzly bear habitat. The objective of this work was to develop a protein microarray that could detect patterns of physiological stress in a rapid manner with small samples of grizzly bear tissue. Sampling from four regions in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta resulted in the capture of 133 bears. During the developmental phase, proteins involved with mitochondrial function were found, using two dimensional gel electrophoresis, to be altered in situations of increased stress. Limited cross-reactivity was found when evaluating grizzly bear stress protein expression using commercially available protein microarrays. The protein microarray developed in this thesis consists of 31commercial antibodies validated for grizzly bears. These antibodies recognize proteins associated with different aspects of the stress response, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, apoptosis/cell cycle, cellular stress, and oxidative stress and inflammation. Skin was selected as the tissue for evaluation of protein expression. Strong correlations were found between many of the proteins within functional categories. Model selection for the protein categories revealed variation that corresponded with region, serum markers of stress (total cortisol and hsp60), growth, the density of roads in the habitat and the amount of anthropogenic change in the bears home range. Regional trends of expression found bears in Swan Hills and bears from North highway 16 having elevated expression of the proteins measured by the microarray. The protein microarray was thus able to detect expression patterns reflecting physiological and environmental markers. The array shows great promise for future use in detection of potential distress in wildlife populations due to alterations of their habitat.

Free-ranging wildlife are an important contributor of fecal pollution in the form of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to water bodies. Currently, details of this contribution are nebulous and understudied. Much of the related research has not focused on freeranging wildlife; instead investigations examine entire systems while estimating wildlife contribution indirectly or with data of inconsistent quality and source. I began my research by conducting a meta-analysis of existing research to determine the current state of knowledge of wildlife’s specific contribution. Data were sparse, fragmented, of variable quality, and difficult to access. Researchers relied on a variety of outside sources (e.g., state natural resource agencies). Making comparison between studies was nearly impossible because methodologies differed greatly or were described inconsistently. I then calculated wildlife population densities, undertook fecal collection, and conducted spatial analyses of fecal deposition to gather accurate and relevant data of the study area. I augmented field data collection with data derived from my meta-analysis (i.e., fecal deposition rates). I was able to estimate the relative role of individual species (e.g., raccoons [Procyon lotor], white-tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus], and feral hogs [Sus scrofa]). Finally, I created a model using these data to determine important parameters for future research (e.g., fecal deposition rates) and simulate various management strategies. Although all parameters need more research focus, I found defecation rates were especially important but little researched. I found raccoons were the greatest determiner of potential E. coli load in the floodplain though adjustment of other parameters would greatly impact these findings.

A self-administered questionnaire was developed using the Tailored Design Method (Dillman 2000) to assess how information about wildlife, beyond traditional hunting and fishing issues, was transferred to the public by the five selected governmental agencies: state wildlife management agencies (DNRs), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA Wildlife Services (WS), Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The questionnaire addressed agency mission and record-keeping, as well as public demand for information and agency response concerning non-traditional wildlife issues, including: conflicts between humans and wildlife; human health and safety; attracting wildlife; viewing wildlife; general curiosity; and wildlife in distress (i.e., injured, diseased, orphaned). Respondents said that providing the public with information on wildlife and related issues is a significant part of their mission. Unfortunately, few kept permanent records of their interactions with constituents or had established formal protocols for handling queries about non-traditional wildlife issues. Several factors may prevent effective transfer of information about non-traditional wildlife issues to the public, including the historic emphasis on consumptive users. However, collaborative efforts between governmental and non-governmental organizations may prove to be an effective way to respond to public demand.

Thesis (PHD)--University of Montana, 2009. / Contents viewed on December 22, 2009. Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.