Effect of Hunting in Source-Sink Systems in the Neotropics

• Published in: Conservation biology 2000-06, Vol.14 (3), p.713-721
• Main Authors: Novaro, Andres J., Redford, Kent H., Bodmer, Richard E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation biology; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecological sustainability; Essays; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitat conservation; Hunting; Mammals; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; population sinks; population sources; Protected areas; Subsistence hunting; Sustainable agriculture; sustainable use; Tapirus terrestris; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife management
• ISSN: 0888-8892; 1523-1739
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.98452.x

Previous studies of the sustainability of wildlife hunting in the Neotropics have not considered the potential dispersal of animals into hunted areas. A literature review of studies of subsistence hunting in the Neotropics suggests that hunting is often conducted in areas adjacent to relatively undisturbed habitat that may act as sources of animals for the hunted sites. We compared studies of tapir (Tapirus terrestris) hunting at different sites to illustrate the potential bias of sustainability evaluations based on local productivity. The limited information available suggests that dispersal could have a key role in rebuilding animal populations depleted by hunting. Thus, factors that strongly affect dispersal-such as spatial distribution and size of areas with and without hunting, population size in source areas, and social behavior-should be considered when the sustainability of hunting is evaluated in areas with heterogeneous hunting pressure. We suggest the application of two models that use spatial controls (recognizing the potential source-sink nature of some hunted systems and protecting unhunted refugia) to avoid wildlife overexploitation when biological data and enforcement capabilities to regulate harvests are limited. This approach may produce more reliable evaluations of sustainability, provide information on the dynamics of hunting systems, and help local communities and policymakers conserve key areas (including protected areas) that may act as game sources.