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Research priorities for managing invasive wild pigs in North America
Author(s) -
Beasley James C.,
Ditchkoff Stephen S.,
Mayer John J.,
Smith Mark D.,
Vercauteren Kurt C.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1002/jwmg.21436
Subject(s) - wildlife , invasive species , wildlife management , scope (computer science) , ecology , damages , biology , geography , environmental resource management , political science , environmental science , computer science , law , programming language
With recent increases in distribution and numbers of feral pigs ( Sus scrofa ; invasive wild pigs) in North America, there has been a concurrent increase in the ecological and economic effects they have had on native and anthropogenic ecosystems. Despite the amplified interest in invasive wild pig research, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding their basic biology and ecology, the scope of the damage they cause, and the efficacy of many control strategies. Such information is important to support the successful management of invasive wild pigs throughout North America and other areas. In 2016, members of the National Wild Pig Task Force met and developed a set of research priorities to aid in effective management of invasive wild pigs. These research priorities identify 4 topical areas where increased effort and science is most needed to manage invasive wild pigs: biology and ecology, economic and ecological damages, control strategies, and education and human dimensions, with particular emphasis on areas where specific data gaps remain within each topical area. Resolution of such knowledge deficits would advance the understanding of invasive wild pig ecology, enabling more efficient and effective management of this species. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.