Conservation implications of omitting historical data sources: response to Baisre

Historical ecology has made important contributions to conservation biology, broadening our understanding of long-term changes to species and ecosystems, of their structure and function before pervasive human impact, and of the possibilities for recovery and restoration. Its research model relies on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation biology 2016-02, Vol.30 (1), p.226-227
Main Authors: McClenachan, Loren, Cooper, Andrew B., Hardt, Marah, McKenzie, Matthew, Drew, Joshua A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Comment
Conservation biology
Ecosystems
Environmental restoration
Extinction, Biological
Human influences
Humans
Seals, Earless - physiology
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Summary:Historical ecology has made important contributions to conservation biology, broadening our understanding of long-term changes to species and ecosystems, of their structure and function before pervasive human impact, and of the possibilities for recovery and restoration. Its research model relies on archaeological and historical records--which can be incomplete--and often makes use of sources that are imprecise by modern ecological standards. For these reasons, Baisre argues that previous historical ecology research on Caribbean monk seals (Monachus tropicalis) was flawed. Baisre's conclusion results from a limited re-examination of historical documents and faulty assumptions and has implications for historical ecology and conservation biology more broadly.
ISSN:0888-8892
1523-1739
DOI:10.1111/cobi.12638