Wildlife Ecology

Abstract

Studies in wildlife ecology often use descriptive and inferential methods that reflect characteristics of data and the practical needs of wildlife managers. The discipline generally emphasizes population rather than individual features or broader ecosystem processes; this approach is reflected in quantitative methods developed and adopted by wildlife ecologists. Modern wildlife ecology considers both the management and conservation of animals and also includes theoretical studies and perspectives related to wildlife‐associated phenomena. The discipline has become increasingly quantitative over time and often employs capture–recapture methods to estimate population size, survival, and other life‐history characteristics. Quantitative methods used to study wildlife include, but are not limited to, estimates of abundance, population‐viability analysis, home‐range estimation, movements, migration, spatial distributions, and landscape metrics. Radiotelemetry is widely used to conduct research on wildlife. Habitat selection, stable isotope analysis, genetics, and behavioral sampling also play important roles in studies of wildlife.