ABSTRACT
Chapter 25 lays out the important principles of wildlife management. Wildlife management is so useful that it is a student favorite, yet often not taught within ecology courses, probably because of its early association with game species and hunting. Currently, wildlife management also covers non-game species, which is why wildlife management might now be better defined as “habitat ecology.” At the onset, Aldo Leopold laid out the major principles: (1) all animals need food, water, cover, and space; (2) if you build it, they will come, referring to habitat; and (3) the habitat most attractive to vertebrate herbivores is “edge.” Edge is early succession grasses, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation at knee-high to waist-high levels. Detailed descriptions of food, water, cover, and space are provided in this chapter, including a comparison of the digestive system of birds versus mammals. The subject of edge effects is covered, along with problems of edge (mid-sized predators, nest parasites, and physical issues like windthrows, desiccation, and sidewalls). The controversial topic of small clearcuts in forests to mimic tree fall gaps is included with the conclusion that clearcuts often benefit songbird diversity and some other animal groups but are detrimental to salamanders.
