Introduction to forest and nature conservation chapter 6

chapter 6

What caused the global decline of wildlife and what factors mainly are responsible for declines in the Netherlands?

Global: Overexploitation, Competition with life stock, land-use change (fragmentation, cultivation, deforestation)

NL: High human density, intense agricultural land-use and fragmentation

Direct effects of herbivores on the vegetation

Large herbivores; Comsumption and trampeling of plants> maintain patch heterogeneity.

Indirect effects on the vegetation

Smaller & larger animals keep the landscape open
Large herbivores are primary food source for predators and scavengers with high energy demands. They make hunting easier for predators of small animals as they clear up the vegetation.

Their carcasses yield more nutrients to more animals (consume less) > depletion of prey is a serious threat for carnivores

can improve situation for small animals (nutrition, habitat, etc.) > But high density of large herbivores without predator has opposite effect (overgrazing)> Central issue in Oostvaarderseplassen.

How do herbivores effect the soil and nutrient cyles?

large herbivores produce mroe biomass and transport seeds more and further away. They consume more plant biomass per unit and effect the nutrient cycles via direct and indirect mechanisms that effect ecosystem functioning. Urinate feces in latrines that create patches of nutrients lasting for years. Carcasses add lots of nutrients, too.

What are the necessary conditions for nowadays wildlife conservation?

Large herbivores need large areas to support populations > Need expanding and connectivity

Human population is increasing and closeby, cooperation with locals is necessary/ essential

In low density human populations, community participation is correlated with compliance in succesful protection kind of thing ;)

without RADICAL intervation, large and small herbivores will continue to dissapear with enormous effects. :(