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Mammalogy (Fall 2013 Althoff - reference FDVM Chapter 28-29). LEC 16. Importance & Value of Mammals. Historically - Indigenous People. Major part of __________ a) food (ex. bison, deer, elk) b) fur, shelter, utensils, etc.
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Mammalogy (Fall 2013 Althoff - reference FDVM Chapter 28-29) LEC 16 Importance & Value of Mammals
Historically - Indigenous People • Major part of __________ a) food (ex. bison, deer, elk) b) fur, shelter, utensils, etc. • Major part of __________ a) ceremony b) spiritual relationships (ex. bison) c) admiration (ex. of bear)
Domestication • Regardless of species…almost all domesticated mammals share certain ______________ and _____________ characteristics that lend themselves to domestication: 1) adaptable in terms of diet and environment 2) highly social, with behavior based on a juvenile period with strong social bonds & domestic hierarchy 3) easily maintained as a resource for products 4) easily bred in captivity, with rapid growth rates 5) closely herded—not adapted for instant flight • Think: sheep, goats, and pigs! • Precludes individuals that are strongly territorial
Domestication out of ~5, 400 species • _____ of mammalian species have been domesticated • Of, those, about 150 have been large herbivores (> 50 kg)….but only 5 –all from_______—have been domesticated AND spread beyond their original range: horse cow sheep goat pig • Summary, by taxonomic grouping provided in Table 28.1, p519 FDVMK…but little ___________ on scientific names
Hypothesized Areas of Origin: Pig Cattle Goat Sheep …probably ____________ “domestication” events throughout this region FDVMK Fig. 28.2 p518
Different Stages of Domestication associated with evolving human social and economic development • ______________: pre-agriculture dog, goat, sheep, reindeer early agriculture cattle (including water buffalo, yak, and banteng), pig • _______________: transport & labor horses and ass, camel and llama, elephants pest destruction cats, ferrets provide consumer products deer ranches, African bovids, fur farms (Ox species in Asia)
Add to the list with “temporal” and “functional” use… • _________: rats mice rabbits
Domesticated Livestock – “BIG” numbers Perissodactyla Numbers Horses 55,470,000 Asses 40,328,000 Mules 12,806,000 Artiodactyla Cattle 1,371,177,000 Sheep 1,024,040,000 Pigs 956,017,000 Goats 767,930,000 Buffalo 170,661,000 Camels 19,074,000 • FDVMK Table 28.2 p521 2003 estimates
Historically - European Settlers • First wave (pre-1850’s) a) ____________ hunting provided food, clothing b) ___________ (trappers used for barter) • Second wave (post 1850’s) provided Eastern U.S. markets
Historically • Bison numbered in the (30-75) millions • Predators, particularly wolves, reportedly killed 1/3 of all bison calves (source: DeSmet 1905 from accounts by Native Americans) • Demise of _______ on Great Plains a major factor in establishment of conservation movement
Importance to Ecosystem • Pre 1900’s: bison & prairie dog were __________ species in the Great Plains • Post 1960’s: _____________ only KEYSTONE species that realistically can still have that distinction
Influences on Mammals in Great Plains/Midwest...today • Grazing a) competition for food with ungulates b) pest control (coyotes, pocket gophers, prairie dogs) • Cultivation of crops (rodents, lagomorphs, ungulates) • Fire suppression • Development (mining, commercial development)
Some examples of _____________ impacts in recent times… • White-tailed deer a) vehicle collisions (loss of life & property) b) altering forest floor species composition • Nutria (introduced) a) destruction of marshes b) damage to flood control levees (____ of levees estimated to have failed during Katrina because of Nutria) • Tree squirrels (fox, gray especially) a) major cause of transformers blowing
Other Considerations • Bison replaced by cattle, sheep • Elk, deer, pronghorn provide major recreational hunting • Endangered species and/or Species of Interest (examples): grizzly bear timber wolf river otter swift fox Indiana bat Canada lynx black-footed ferret
Gray wolf (Canis lupus) SOURCE: NatureServe 14 April 2008
Black-footed ferret By _____, finally more b-f ferrets In wild than in captivity !!! Historical range Meeteetse, WY (last known “wild” popn by 1980s) Reintroduction sites by 1995 Wyoming (Shirley Basin) – ‘91 Montana (C.M. Russel NWR) – ‘94 South Dakota (Badlands) – ‘94
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) SOURCE: NatureServe 14 April 2008
Other Considerations... • Value as Ecosystem “Health” Indicators a) changes in habitat quality &/or quantity ex: muskrats (aquatic systems) cottontails (terrestrial systems) b) pollution: most mammals in the Great Plains/Midwest don’t migrate (as compared to many bird species)…for long-lived species this may help identify areas of contamination
Keys to Preserving Mammals(AKA ___________________________) • ______________ human population growth & associated expansion • _____________ of mammals as part of “our” ecosystem • _____________ pest removal, not population reduction • _____ or ______ and/or _______ large tracts of undisturbed/unmanipulated land
“Newer” approaches …not-for-profit support/guidance • __________ first one with red-cockaded woodpecker in NC; now one for San Joaquin kit fox in CA now one for North Idaho ground squirrel in ID now one for Mexican gray wolf in NM • _________________ • NatureServe • _________________________ • National Wildlife Federation