Category: Research Page

posts that form part of the Research Page

Sarah King publishes two new papers on feral horses and donkeys

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Sarah King, research scientist with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory in the Warner College of Natural Resources (Colorado State University), recently published two papers on wild horses and donkeys in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology and in Animal Behaviour.  One paper examines how evolutionary history and habitat influence their behaviors. The other paper looks at factors that affect reproductive success in wild horse populations in Utah, in particular male behavioural patterns. To view the article and access the source papers, click on the link below. Continue reading

Rethinking the mantra of biodiversity: Why the past should not determine the future

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from the ABC Website The New South Wales state government has recently commenced the aerial killings of 14,000 feral horses residing in Kosciuszko National Park. The goal is to meet the legislated requirement of reducing the number of horses in the park to 3,000 by 2027. This legislation was passed because NSW has the legal mandate of protecting biodiversity and because the activities of feral horses are classified as a threat to native species, such as Corroboree frogs and broad-tooth rats. This policy illustrates the normative assumptions of conservation policy-makers, which are well-captured in Michael Soulé’s famous article, “What Is… Continue reading

Horses, camels and deer get a bad rap for razing plants – but our new research shows they’re no worse than native animals

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Robert Sleep/AAP Large introduced herbivores such as feral horses and camels are often seen as “invasive” species which damage native plants. My colleagues and I published new research in Science testing this assumption and found it isn’t true. Instead, both native and introduced species of plant-eating megafauna (weighing over 45 kilos) have similar impacts on plants. The effects of introduced megafauna on plants can drive negative public sentiment towards the species. It’s time to change how we think of these animals. ……………………… The double standard of ‘harm’ It can be a shock to see the impact of feral pigs, deer,… Continue reading

New Research delves deeper into wild horse impacts on the environment

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A new study that, for the first time in the Australian Alps, correlates horse density to environmental impact provides a more cost effective way to manage horses in the wild. Working in two areas of the Victorian Alps, the Bogong High Plains and the Eastern Victorian Alps, the study found that less than 1% of the Bogong High Plains and less than 18% of the Eastern Victorian Alps had significant horse impacts. Furthermore, correlation of horse density and environmental impact via a density-impact function revealed that in this study area, up to a horse density of 9 horses per square… Continue reading