Single-species versus Multiple-species Approaches for Management

Neotropical migratory birds are major components of the avifauna in most North American terrestrial ecosystems. Over 150 species of Neotropical migratory birds are known to breed in North America (Finch 199Ia). Given the large number of species, developing effective management strategies for Neotropical migratory birds is a monumental task because each species exploits a unique niche, and thus requires different considerations for the management of its habitats and populations. Management is complicated further by temporal and spatial variations in resource-use patterns by many species. Thus, detailed knowledge of a species' habitat and population ecology from one place and time might have little relevance to other locations or periods. Managers have a continuum of options for managing wildlife resources. This continuum ranges from management for one or a few featured species to the management of entire communities, landscapes, ecosystems, or regions. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of one approach over another represents a series of tradeoffs. Resource managers must decide which approach meets their objectives and the level of risk that is acceptable. We present a conceptual framework of alternative approaches to wildlife management, with special emphasis on the management of Neotropical migratory birds. In particular, we discuss the use of single-species approaches, managementand ecological-indicator species, the guild concept and some of its permutations, and ecosystem approaches. We outline these approaches and weigh their merits and CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE MANAGEMENT CONTINUUM