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METHODS article

Front. Conserv. Sci.
Sec. Animal Conservation
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2024.1450000
This article is part of the Research Topic Linking Habitat Quality to Population Dynamics for Conservation Decision Making View all 6 articles

HABITAT MANAGEMENT DECISIONS FOR CONSERVATION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Provisionally accepted
James Nichols James Nichols 1*David R. Breininger David R. Breininger 2Doug P. Armstrong Doug P. Armstrong 3Robert C. Lacy Robert C. Lacy 4
  • 1 University of Florida, Seffner, United States
  • 2 University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, United States
  • 3 Massey University, Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
  • 4 Independent researcher, Jonesboro, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The focus of this selecNon of papers is the linkage of habitat and populaNon dynamics for the purpose of conservaNon. We thus provide a general framework for making conservaNon decisions, emphasizing how knowledge of habitat-populaNon linkages fits into this framework. We begin by describing structured decision-making (SDM) as a general approach to making conservaNon decisions. SDM requires development of the following elements: objecNves, acNons, model(s), monitoring and decision algorithm. We then describe adapNve resource management (ARM), a specific type of SDM developed for recurrent decisions characterized by potenNally resolvable uncertainty. Many different classes of acNons can be used to influence animal populaNon dynamics, and modificaNon of habitat is one class of acNon that is frequently used. Habitat management requires models for predicNng responses of the managed system to management acNons, and these models are based on our knowledge of habitat-populaNon linkages. Frequently, these models are decomposed into two submodels, one used to predict habitat changes expected to result from management acNons, and another used to predict populaNon responses to habitat changes. This laeer modeling focuses generally on the influence of habitat change on vital rates governing dynamics of populaNon state variables (variables such as populaNon size or density that describe the status or health of a populaNon). Specific recommendaNons depend on (1) the vital rates and state variable(s) being considered, (2) the relaNve spaNal scales of animal movement and habitat measurement, and (3) the relaNve temporal scales of habitat change and vital rate esNmaNon. Finally, we present an example of an ARM program for habitat management, highlighNng the role of habitat-linked populaNon modeling in this effort.

    Keywords: adapNve resource management, conservaNon management, Decision science, Habitat management, populaNon modelling, Structured decision making

    Received: 16 Jun 2024; Accepted: 20 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Nichols, Breininger, Armstrong and Lacy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: James Nichols, University of Florida, Seffner, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.