Our Human Interactions with the Non-Human Animals

How Many Animals Do We Want to Save? The Many Ways of Setting Population Target Levels for Conservation ERIC W. SANDERSON November 2006 / Vol. 56 No. 11 BioScience 911

Extinction Vortex A population of a few individuals cannot survive

Can a number of individuals be set?

Fewest number of individuals for an area, but fewest number for what?

Can a number of individuals be set? Extreme examples: Ecotourism want the largest possible population Mining or Agriculture would like none or somewhere else…NIMBY

What are the consequences of setting the wrong number?

Too high Too low

Can a number of individuals be set? Scientists are reluctant to set a specific number Policymakers want information from scientists

What are the consequences of setting the wrong number? Subjective values meets objective science

Yellowstone area wolf packs 2004 How many wolves should be in Yellowstone NP

How many tigers does the world need? None?

What criteria do we use to set limits? Money Land Development

What criteria do we use to set limits? Money Land Development Who benefits? Animals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survivalAnimals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survival

What criteria do we use to set limits? Money Land Development Who benefits? Animals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survivalAnimals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survival Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?

What criteria do we use to set limits? Money Land Development Who benefits? Animals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survivalAnimals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survival Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?

Who benefits? Animals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survival?Animals- what is the minimum number for sustainable survival?  Genetic Diversity Genetic Diversity

Who benefits? Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?  Density may be more important than total number Density may be more important than total number

Who benefits? Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?  Density may be more important than total number Density may be more important than total number  Manage population and monitor effects on ecosystem Manage population and monitor effects on ecosystem

Who benefits? Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?Ecosystem- What is the minimum number to maintain a healthy ecosystem?  Density may be more important than total number Density may be more important than total number  Manage population and monitor effects on ecosystem Manage population and monitor effects on ecosystem  Some species may be used to monitor health of overall ecosystem Some species may be used to monitor health of overall ecosystem

Who benefits? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?  Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos

Who benefits? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?  Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos  Ecotourism/Tourism Ecotourism/Tourism

Who benefits? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?  Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos  Ecotourism/Tourism Ecotourism/Tourism  Harvest sustainable population Harvest sustainable population

Who benefits? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?  Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos  Ecotourism/Tourism Ecotourism/Tourism  Harvest sustainable population Harvest sustainable population  Ecosystem benefits- seed dispersal, pollinators, nutrient recycling Ecosystem benefits- seed dispersal, pollinators, nutrient recycling

Who benefits? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?  Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos  Ecotourism/Tourism Ecotourism/Tourism  Harvest sustainable population Harvest sustainable population  Ecosystem benefits- seed dispersal, pollinators, nutrient recycling Ecosystem benefits- seed dispersal, pollinators, nutrient recycling These functions cannot practically or economically be carried out by humans

Who benefits? Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?Humans- How many do we need to derive some beneifit?  Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos Total eradication may be goal- mosquitos  Ecotourism/Tourism Ecotourism/Tourism  Harvest sustainable population Harvest sustainable population  Ecosystem benefits Ecosystem benefits  Cultural, Aesthetic, Spiritual Cultural, Aesthetic, Spiritual

How many animals do we want to save?

Complex interactions of science, economics, and ethics.

How many animals do we want to save? Complex interactions of science, economics, and ethics. If a number is set, it may stay static as conditions change.

How many animals do we want to save? Sanderson’s proposed solution:

How many animals do we want to save? Sanderson’s proposed solution: Minimum Viable Population- number of individuals that allows animals to exist free from human interference.

How many animals do we want to save? Most of human history includes critical and profound interactions with other organisms. That is now diminished or gone.

How many animals do we want to save? Most of human history includes critical and profound interactions with other organisms. That is now diminished or gone.

How many animals do we want to save? Sanderson’s proposed solution- multilayered approach: 1.Demographic sustainabilityDemographic sustainability

How many animals do we want to save? Sanderson’s proposed solution- multilayered approach: 1.Demographic SustainabilityDemographic Sustainability 2.Ecological Functions (includes ability to freely evolve)Ecological Functions (includes ability to freely evolve)

How many animals do we want to save? Sanderson’s proposed solution- multilayered approach: 1.Demographic SustainabilityDemographic Sustainability 2.Ecological FunctionsEcological Functions 3.Human Use and InteractionsHuman Use and Interactions

How many animals do we want to save? Sanderson’s proposed solution- multilayered approach: 1.Demographic SustainabilityDemographic Sustainability 2.Ecological FunctionsEcological Functions 3.Human Use and InteractionsHuman Use and Interactions 4.Can we return animals to levels that existed before humans had a negative impact?Can we return animals to levels that existed before humans had a negative impact?

Instead of a single number…A number for each level can be determined. How many animals do we want to save? 1.Demographic SustainabilityDemographic Sustainability 2.Ecological FunctionsEcological Functions 3.Human Use and InteractionsHuman Use and Interactions 4.Can we return animals to levels that existed before humans had a negative impact?Can we return animals to levels that existed before humans had a negative impact?

Maintaining a complex society required culture and language.

The complexity of our societies is reflected in human culture… Do other animals have culture?

In rats

Do Animals Have Feelings? Antonio Damasio proposed (2003) 1.Primary - instinctual 2.Social - group interaction 3.Feelings - self-reflection

Do Animals Have Feelings? Antonio Damasio proposed (2003) 1.Primary - instinctual 2.Social - group interaction 3.Feelings - self-reflection

Are non-human animals self-aware? The mirror test: developed by Gallup in 1980s

Killer Whale time spent in front of window (C) vs mirror (M) Behavioural Processes Vol 53, #3, 26 April 2001, pg Behavioural Processes Vol 53, #3, 26 April 2001, pg

Killer Whale time spent shaking head in front of window (C) vs mirror (M) Behavioural Processes Vol 53, #3, 26 April 2001, pg Behavioural Processes Vol 53, #3, 26 April 2001, pg

Killer Whale time spent opening mouth in front of window (C) vs mirror (M) Behavioural Processes Vol 53, #3, 26 April 2001, pg Behavioural Processes Vol 53, #3, 26 April 2001, pg

a bottlenose dolphin trying to see a spot painted on it’s side

What about birds? (

This pigeon has a bib so it cannot see it’s chest

put dot, and determine pigeons actions in front of mirror

Several species can recognize self in mirror by dot test or actions in front of mirror. They do not see mirror image as other, but self.

Is a sense of self necessary for feelings? Should our interactions with animals depend on their self-awareness? Is self-awareness necessary for feeling pain, fear, etc? Nature 419, 255 (19 September 2002) Awareness: Animal reflections by Marc Bekoff

Our Human Interactions with the Non-Human Animals