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Abstract
We discuss management goals and research directions for a comprehensive study of wildlife in California's oak woodlands. Oak woodlands are under intensive multiple use, including urbanization, recreation, grazing, fuel wood cutting, and hunting. Research in oak woodlands is thus complicated by these numerous, often competing, interests. Complicating understanding of resource requirements of wildlife is the historic emphasis on the use of these woodlands for grazing by domestic livestock and consumptive wildlife (game). The introduction of exotic wildlife species has further impacted the oak woodland environment. We review ecological principles that must be considered when developing any management plan for oak-woodland wildlife, including habitat selection, the ecological niche, spatial and temporal aspects of resource use, and ecological scale. We outline a research program that: (1) develops research and management goals based on sound ecological concepts, (2) recognizes the scale-dependence of research results and management decisions, and (3) considers the acceptable level of accuracy and precision to be achieved. We suggest that maintenance of biological diversity at the watershed level is an attainable goal. A wider range of practicing field scientists must be involved in future research and management decisions.
Parent Publication
Citation
Morrison, Michael L.; Block, William M.; Verner, Jared. 1991. Wildlife-Habitat Relationships in California''s Oak Woodlands: Where Do We Go From Here?. In: Standiford, Richard B., tech. coord. 1991. Proceedings of the symposium on oak woodlands and hardwood rangeland management; October 31 - November 2, 1990; Davis, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-126. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 105-109
