Error propagation in energetic carrying capacity models
Journal of Conservation Planning
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Conservation objectives derived from carrying capacity models have been used to inform management of
landscapes for wildlife populations. Energetic carrying capacity models are particularly useful in conservation planning
for wildlife; these models use estimates of food abundance and energetic requirements of wildlife to target conservation
actions. We provide a general method for incorporating a foraging threshold (i.e., density of food at which foraging
becomes unprofitable) when estimating food availability with energetic carrying capacity models. We use a hypothetical
example to describe how past methods for adjustment of foraging thresholds biased results of energetic carrying capacity
models in certain instances. Adjusting foraging thresholds at the patch level of the species of interest provides results
consistent with ecological foraging theory. Presentation of two case studies suggest variation in bias which, in certain
instances, created large errors in conservation objectives and may have led to inefficient allocation of limited resources.
Our results also illustrate how small errors or biases in application of input parameters, when extrapolated to large spatial
extents, propagate errors in conservation planning and can have negative implications for target populations.
Suggested Citation
Pearse, A.T., Stafford, J.D., 2014, Error propagation in energetic carrying capacity models: Journal of Conservation Planning, v. 10, p. 17-24.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Error propagation in energetic carrying capacity models |
| Series title | Journal of Conservation Planning |
| Volume | 10 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | University of Florida Department of Urban and Regional Planning, The Conservation Fund |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Conservation Planning |
| First page | 17 |
| Last page | 24 |