Social-Ecological Systems
Week 4, Lecture 1: Park Systems
*Midterm in Theatre Auditorium 24 October (more content focused on lesson notes)
Content
Changing philosophies
Preservation of species MVP-genetics
Greater Park ecosystem
Recreation- wilderness
Economics- protection-poaching
Biosphere reserve e.g. Wolf –Algonquin
**Greatest conservation attention given to Park Management
In the 1960’s the Environmental Movement began!
In the early 1960’s Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Springs” was released that triggered the
environmental movement. The book was focused on the danger of DDT, and ozone depletion.
Parks Wildlife Management
Species at risk
Large carnivores or keystone species
Calculate smallest size of park- reserve, support minimum number of individuals- self-sustaining
population
Determine most space-demanding species,- cover all species
Genetic and population demography
In Canada COSWIC determines what species are put on the SARA (Species at Risk Act)
SARA was developed 5-6 years ago
SARA clause specifies that the species, AND the habitat is protected (if an at-risk bird is living on
farmland, that land is now protected and must not be disturbed)
Island Biogeography
**When determining where to have a park, the distribution, things to look at include:
Ecological surrounded by water or unsuitable habitat site (does not have to be literally an island)
Small islands support smaller number of species
10x increase in size- 2x increase in species
The further away from the shoreline, the diversity of species decreases. Closer to the shoreline there is
more diversity. Colonization is more rapid the closer you are to the mainland, hence more diversity. The further away from the shoreline, less species can migrate to it, so the animals on the further island are
more likely to experience extinction.
Smaller island, far from shoreline= BAD (low colonization, high extinction rate)
Larger island, close to shoreline= GOOD (high colonization, very diverse)
Management of Island Biogeography
Survival
Equilibrium between species immigration and extinction
Factors
Size and distance to colonizing source
Optimum park size and pattern
SLOSS debate (Single Large or Several Small)
One large better than number of small one
Number close together better than spread out
SLOSS debate, do you keep the little parks and manage them, or do you buy all the surrounding land
and create one large park.
Benefits of Large Park Benefits of Small Parks
More biodiversity Allows movements between parks
Less fragmentation Genetic diversity
Smaller extinction rate Reduced danger of ‘weak’ s
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