Historic Perspective on Wildlife in North America Understanding “why” sometimes requires perspective Vicariance Biogeography (sec of text) Climate change & associated shifts in habitat Human impact

Example of Vicariance Biogeography

Panamanian Land Bridge formed ~ 2.5 mya

1) Species of all types, sizes, from all regions & habitats 2) Magnitude of human-caused extinction 3) Time scale of species losses 4) Size and growth rate of human population Prehistoric vs. Current Extinctions

History of Wildlife Conservation in the US Periods/ eras: Pre-European settlement Abundance & Overexploitation Protection & Game Management Environment Awareness 1990s onwards …

Pre-European Settlement (<1600) Native American dependence on wildlife Evidence of habitat modification & semi- domestication Co-existence

Abundance & Overexploitation ( ) Wildlife perceived as unlimited resource Market hunting decimated many species Bounties on predators common

Heath Hen Great Auk Carolina Parakeet

Abundance & Overexploitation ( ) Overuse coincided with westward expansion Extinction of many common species Beginning of conservation laws for game species

Protection & Game Management ( s) Extirpation (& near-extirpation) of previously common species Recognition of overexploitation End market hunting Laws to control harvest

Protection & Game Management ( s) continued …. Establishment of state fish & game departments Wildlife Conservation as a Science (Leopold wrote “Game Management” in 1933) Conservation focus on game species

Environmental Awareness (> mid-1960s) Greater public interest in wildlife conservation & environmental issues View of “wildlife” expands to include nongame species and non-consumptive uses Focus on species reintroduction (ESA) & restoration of ecosystems Wildlife as a part of biodiversity (1990’s)

Biodiversity in the US