Module 8: Management and Viability of Target Species: Modeling and Monitoring

Abstract

One way to mitigate conflicts between species protection and economic damage is population management, i.e. active control of the target species. Any strategy of population control, however, has to meet the constraint that the population stays viable. This chapter presents a framework for modelling and monitoring the viability of populations under active control and for assessing chances and risks of management scenarios already in advance. It accounts for the demographic parameters in the population and the management measure of interest. It highlights that active control is only recommended in cases where population growth rate is above 1.0. Management ought to be adaptive (activity only above a certain threshold) and differentiate between breeders and non-breeders. This requires an appropriate monitoring. Mean age was found to be a useful indicator for population monitoring. The chapter also provides a list of free and commercial software for population viability analysis and monitoring.