Grand Canyon bison nativity, genetics, and ecology: Looking forward
Plumb GE, Sturm M, McMullen C, Holm G, Lutch C, Keckler C, Gatto A, Munig A, Wallen R. 2016. Grand Canyon bison nativity, genetics, and ecology: Looking forward. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NRSS/BRD/NRR—2016/1226. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In response to a request for technical assistance by Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA), the National Park Service (NPS) Biological Resources Division (BRD) assembled an inter-agency discussion on bison nativity, genetics, landscape size and bison abundance and density for consideration within GRCA planning for bison management. This report describes how a team of wildlife biologists from the NPS, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) convened, deliberated, and agreed that: 1) the wild, free-ranging bison that may occupy GRCA north rim and adjacent USFS jurisdictions are native wildlife at the west-southwest edge of their continental historic range; 2) the genetics of the current herd can be improved and are not in conflict with NPS, USFS, and AGFD missions and policies; 3) a large landscape of about 215,000 acres on GRCA and Kaibab National Forest lands is suitable for cooperative bison management and protection of sensitive resources and values; 4) a very low density of 80-200 bison (0.0004 – 0.001 bison/ac) represent a conservative approach to best addressing a suite of prevailing interagency bison management considerations; and 5) initial population reduction to reach population objectives would be best achieved in the near-term via combined approaches so that in the long-term hunting outside the park can serve as the primary population management approach. As a small population at the edge of the historic range, this herd will likely be more vulnerable to environmental stochasticity, long-term genetic loss and random effects on population ecology than larger herds. Hence, for the long-term the herd should likely be a satellite of a larger meta-population, with local management that strives to simultaneously protect sensitive resources while addressing near- and long-term small population conservation.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Plumb, Glenn; Sturm, Mark; McMullen, Craig; Holm, Greg; Lutch, Carl; Keckler, Chirre; Gatto, Angela; Munig, Amber; Wallen, Rick
- Date of Issue
- 2016-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BRD , GRCA , NRSS