Application of Threshold Concepts to Ecological Management Problems: Occupancy of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska

摘要: In this chapter, we demonstrate the application of various classes thresholds, detailed in earlier chapters and elsewhere, via an actual but simplified natural resource management case study. We intend our example to provide reader with ability recognize apply theoretical concepts utility, ecological decision thresholds problems through a formalized decision-analytic process. Our study concerns human recreational activities Alaska’s Denali National Park, USA, possible impacts such on nesting Golden Eagles, Aquila chrysaetos. Managers desire allow visitors greatest amount access park lands, provided that eagle nesting-site occupancy is maintained at level determined be acceptable by managers themselves. As these two objectives are potentially odds, treat minimum desired as utility threshold which, then, serves guide selection annual alternatives disturbance not only factor influencing occupancy, model dynamics function both prey availability. incorporate uncertainty considering several hypotheses, including hypothesis site affected abundance (i.e., effect). By competing accounting for forms process, able determine optimal number restrictions will produce long-term benefits eagles humans. Setting 75 occupied sites, out total 90 potential optimization specified approximately 80 sites. At point current falls below recommended begin restricting humans; above level, it all territories opened recreation. evaluated sensitivity system threshold).