Restoration of bighorn sheep: History, successes, and remaining conservation issues

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution

Jericho C. Whiting¹  Clinton W. Epps²  Vernon C. Bleich³  R. Terry Bowyer⁴ 

[1] Department of Biology, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID, United States;Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States;Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States;Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States;

关键词: bighorn sheep;    mountain sheep;    Ovis canadensis;    reintroduction;    translocation;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2023.1083350

 received in 2022-10-28, accepted in 2023-02-06,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Mammals are imperiled worldwide, primarily from habitat loss or modification, and exhibit downward trends in their populations and distributions. Likewise, large-bodied herbivores have undergone a collapse in numbers and are at the highest extinction risk of all mammals. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are among those large-bodied herbivores that possess a slow-paced life history, suffer from debilitating diseases, and have experienced range contractions across their historical distribution since the late 1800s. Translocations and reintroductions of these mountain ungulates are key aspects of restoration and often are used to re-establish populations in historical habitat or to supplement declining herds. Millions of US dollars and much effort by state and federal natural resource agencies, as well as public and private organizations, have been expended to restore bighorn sheep. Despite those efforts, translocated populations of bighorn sheep have not always been successful. We assessed restoration of bighorn sheep to provide insights in the context of conservation of populations of bighorn sheep, because this management tool is a frequently used to re-establish populations. We focused briefly on past efforts to restore bighorn sheep populations and followed with updates on the value of habitat enhancements, genetic issues, the importance of ecotypic or phenotypic adaptations when restoring populations, predation, and disease transmission. We also raised issues and posed questions that have potential to affect future decisions regarding the restoration of bighorn sheep. This information will help conservationists improve the success of conserving these iconic large mammals.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Whiting, Bleich, Bowyer and Epps.