Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR08153
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 36(7)

Mapping wildlife: integrating stakeholder knowledge with modelled patterns of deer abundance by using participatory GIS

Z. Austin A , S. Cinderby B , J. C. R. Smart A , D. Raffaelli A and P. C. L. White A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.

B Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.

C Corresponding author. Email: pclw1@york.ac.uk

Wildlife Research 36(7) 553-564 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR08153
Submitted: 28 October 2008  Accepted: 23 June 2009   Published: 28 October 2009

Abstract

Context. Some species that are perceived by certain stakeholders as a valuable resource can also cause ecological or economic damage, leading to contrasting management objectives and subsequent conflict between stakeholder groups. There is increasing recognition that the integration of stakeholder knowledge with formal scientific data can enhance the information available for use in management. This is especially true where scientific understanding is incomplete, as is frequently the case for wide-ranging species, which can be difficult to monitor directly at the landscape scale.

Aims. The aim of the research was to incorporate stakeholder knowledge with data derived from formal quantitative models to modify predictions of wildlife distribution and abundance, using wild deer in the UK as an example.

Methods. We use selected predictor variables from a deer–vehicle collision model to estimate deer densities at the 10-km square level throughout the East of England. With these predictions as a baseline, we illustrate the use of participatory GIS as a methodological framework for enabling stakeholder participation in the refinement of landscape-scale deer abundance maps.

Key results. Stakeholder participation resulted in modifications to modelled abundance patterns for all wild deer species present in the East of England, although the modifications were minor and there was a high degree of consistency among stakeholders in the adjustments made. For muntjac, roe and fallow deer, the majority of stakeholder changes represented an increase in density, suggesting that populations of these species are increasing in the region.

Conclusions. Our results show that participatory GIS is a useful technique for enabling stakeholders to contribute to incomplete scientific knowledge, especially where up-to-date species distribution and abundance data are needed to inform wildlife research and management.

Implications. The results of the present study will serve as a valuable information base for future research on deer management in the region. The flexibility of the approach makes it applicable to a range of species at different spatial scales and other wildlife conflict issues. These may include the management of invasive species or the conservation of threatened species, where accurate spatial data and enhanced community involvement are necessary in order to facilitate effective management.

Additional keywords: deer–vehicle collisions, geographic information systems, management conflict resolution, predictive spatial model, stakeholder participation.


Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). We are grateful to all of the interviewees that participated in the research, to J. Langbein, A. Ward and the British Deer Society for providing data and to E. Willis and A. Owen for providing GIS knowledge and expertise. We are also grateful to two anonymous referees whose comments helped to improve the original manuscript.


References

Abbot, J. , Chambers, R. , Dunn, C. , Harris, T. , Merode, E. D. , Porter, G. , Townsend, J. , and Weiner, D. (1998). Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron? PLA Notes 33, 27–34.
Chapman D., and Chapman N. (1975). ‘Fallow Deer: Their History, Distribution and Biology.’ (Terence Dalton: Lavenham, UK.)

Chase, L. C. , Siemer, W. F. , and Decker, D. J. (2002). Designing stakeholder involvement strategies to resolve wildlife management controversies. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30, 937–950.
Conover M. (2002). ‘Resolving Human–Wildlife Conflicts: The Science of Wildlife Damage Management.’ (Lewis Publishers, CRC press LLC: Boca Raton, FL.)

Cooke, A. , and Farrell, L. (2001). Impact of muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) at Monks Wood National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire, eastern England. Forestry 74, 241–250.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Corbet G. , and Harris S. (1991). ‘The Handbook of British Mammals.’ (Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford, UK.)

Côté, S. D. , Rooney, T. P. , Tremblay, J. P. , Dussault, C. , and Waller, D. M. (2004). Ecological impacts of deer overabundance. Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics 35, 113–147.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | English Nature (2003). English Nature Research Report 548. In ‘Proceedings of the Future for Deer Conference’. (English Nature: Peterborough, UK.)

ESRI (2004). ‘ArcGIS.’ (Environmental Systems Research Institute: Redlands, CA.)

Farrell, M. C. , and Tappe, P. A. (2007). County-level factors contributing to deer–vehicle collisions in Arkansas. Journal of Wildlife Management 71, 2727–2731.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Greene W. H. (1998). ‘Limdep v7.0.’ (Econometric Software Inc.: Plainview, NY.)

Greene W. H. (2003). ‘Econometric Analysis.’ (Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.)

Hall, G. P. , and Gill, K. P. (2005). Management of wild deer in Australia. The Journal of Wildlife Management 69, 837–844.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | IEEP (2003). A long term policy perspective for sustainable agriculture: environmental impacts. Final report for DEFRA. Appendix 2. Issue 1.0. Report no: GRP-P-158. (GFA–RACE Partners Ltd.: Cirencester, UK.)

Irvine, R. J. , Fiorini, S. , McLeod, J. , Turner, A. , Van der Wal, R. , Armstrong, H. , Yearley, S. , and White, P. C. L. (2009). Can managers inform models? Integrating local knowledge into models of red deer habitat use. Journal of Applied Ecology 46, 344–352.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Krebs J. R. , Anderson R. , Clutton-Brock T. , Morrison I. , Young D. , and Donnelly C. (1997). ‘Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers.’ (MAFF Publications: London.)

Krumm, C. E. , Conner, M. M. , and Miller, M. W. (2005). Relative vulnerability of chronic wasting disease infected mule deer to vehicle collisions. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41, 503–511.
| PubMed | Macdonald D. W. , Mace G. , and Rushton S. (1998). ‘Proposals for Future Monitoring of British Mammals.’ (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: London.)

Mallick, S. A. , Hocking, G. J. , and Driessen, M. M. (1998). Road-kills of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) in Tasmania: an index of abundance. Wildlife Research 25, 139–145.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Mayle B. (1999). Managing deer in the countryside. Practice Note 6. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, UK.

Mayle B. A. , and Staines B. W. (1998). An overview of methods used for estimating the size of deer populations in Great Britain. In ‘Population Ecology, Management and Welfare of Deer’ . (Eds D. R. Goldspink, S. King and R. J. Putman.) pp. 19–31. (Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester, UK.)

McCall, M. K. , and Minang, P. A. (2005). Assessing participatory GIS for community-based natural resource management: claiming community forests in Cameroon. Geographical Journal 171, 340–356.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Moller H. , Berkes F. , Lyver P.ᾨtm)O. , Kislalioglu M. (2004). Combining science and traditional ecological knowledge: monitoring populations for co-management. Ecology and Society 9, 2. Available at http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss3/art2/

Morellet, N. , Gaillard, J.-M. , Hewison, A. J. M. , Ballon, P. , Boscardin, Y. , Duncan, P. , Klein, F. , and Maillard, D. (2007). Indicators of ecological change: new tools for managing populations of large herbivores. Journal of Applied Ecology 44, 634–643.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Putman R. J. (1988). ‘The Natural History of Deer.’ (Christopher Helm: London.)

Putman, R. J. , and Moore, N. P. (1998). Impact of deer in lowland Britain on agriculture, forestry and conservation habitats. Mammal Review 28, 141–164.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Quan J. , Oudwater N. , Pender J. , and Martin A. (2001). GIS and participatory approaches in natural resource research. In ‘Socio-economic Methodologies for Natural Resources Research’. (Natural Resources Institute: Chatham, UK.)

Radeloff, V. C. , Pidgeon, A. M. , and Hostert, P. (1999). Habitat and population modelling of roe deer using an interactive geographic information system. Ecological Modelling 114, 287–304.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Staines B. W. , Langbein J. , and Putman R. J. (2001). ‘Road Traffic Accidents and Deer in Scotland.’ (Deer Commission for Scotland: Inverness, UK.)

Stewart, A. J. A. (2001). The impact of deer on lowland woodland invertebrates: a review of the evidence and priorities for future research. Forestry 74, 259–270.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | White P. C. L. , Smart J. C. R. , Bohm M. , Langbein J. , and Ward A. I. (2004). Economic impacts of wild deer in the East of England. Report to the Forestry Commission and English Nature. Available at http://www.woodlandforlife.net/wfl-woodbank/DisplayArticle_2333.html [Verified September 2009].

White, P. C. L. , Ford, A. E. S. , Clout, M. N. , Engeman, R. M. , Roy, S. , and Saunders, G. (2008). Alien invasive vertebrates in ecosystems: pattern, process and the social dimension. Wildlife Research 35, 171–179.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Wilson C. J. (2003). Current and future deer management options. Report on behalf of DEFRA European Wildlife Division. DEFRA, Exeter, UK.

Yalden D. W. (1998). The past, present and future of deer in Britain. In ‘Population Ecology, Management and Welfare of Deer’. (Eds D. R. Goldspink, S. King and R. J. Putman.) pp. 1–5. (Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester, UK.)

Yamada, K. , Elith, J. , McCarthy, M. , and Zerger, A. (2003). Eliciting and integrating expert knowledge for wildlife habitat modelling. Ecological Modelling 165, 251–264.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Zuur A. F. , Ieno E. N. , and Smith G. M. (2007). ‘Analysing Ecological Data.’ (Springer Verlag, New York.)