Done with Population and Community Ecology (eeks the numbers and the stats!); now onto Applied Ecology. Much of it is common sense, really, just general knowledge and a little bit of specialist knowledge here and there. Ecosystem management, nature reserves, landscape ecology, forestry, fisheries, pest management, climate change, etc etc. :) And there's a little section at the end at the London Zoo looking at their captive breeding programme.
Recent lectures were on mammal conservation - it is surprising that, despite most of the class being UK residents, many are unaware of the law's stand on Grey Squirrels. The Wildlife and Countryside Act states that it is an offence to release, or allow to escape, any animal of a kind that is not established in the wild in Britain. Such animals not only includes the Grey Squirrel, but also the Muntjac Deer, American Mink and Canada Goose. It is also an offence to keep these animals in captivity.
To prevent the Greys from further displacing the native Red Squirrel population, the law has allowed the shooting and trapping of Greys, but once trapped/captured (for the purposes of an individual's welfare/health, etc.) it is illegal to let it back into the wild, and should be 'dispatched' of humanely. Under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act, it is an offence to intentionally inflict unnecessary suffering on any wild mammal...
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