z-logo
Premium
Should I shoot or should I go? Simple rules for prey selection in multi‐species hunting systems
Author(s) -
Chang Charlotte H.,
Drohan Sarah E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1002/eap.1796
Subject(s) - defaunation , foraging , predation , optimal foraging theory , ecology , wildlife , trait , selection (genetic algorithm) , biology , computer science , rumen , food science , fermentation , programming language , artificial intelligence
Across the tropics, unregulated hunting targeting many different species presents a major conservation challenge. Prioritizing resources for monitoring and enforcement is difficult when multiple prey species are exploited. However, identifying which prey species are subject to hunting pressure can be achieved with diet choice models. We evaluate hunter diet sets using data from Southwest China and compare two diet choice models: optimal foraging theory and a relatively new diet model originating from economic optimal stopping problems. The optimal stopping diet choice model required fewer field parameters than optimal foraging models and more accurately reflected hunter catch in Southwest China. The optimal stopping model also indicated that hunters should be less selective when they experience a larger opportunity cost for their time. Finally, we illustrate a new method to evaluate harvest impact from single sites with limited data using dietary thresholds. This technique could be used to evaluate whether or not the community of exploited wildlife has shifted in its trait distribution, providing a means to anticipate trait‐biased defaunation from minimal data.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here