Terrestrial mammals of Virginia: Trends in distribution and diversity
- Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (United States)
The present mammal fauna of Virginia formed during the post-Pleistocene warming trend. Indians had little impact on the fauna, but European introduction of firearms led to terminal exploitation of bison and elk and to deliberate extirpation of large predators. Logging, clearing for agriculture, and urbanization had a negative impact on some forest species and brought gains for some open country species. The present era of conservation attempts to maintain diversity and to stabilize the fauna through protection, restoration, and management. Predictable future threats to mammals are from pressure of an expanding human population, global warming, and severe environmental perturbations such as acid rain and infestations of gypsy moths. Future challenges include maintaining large roadless and relatively trailless wild areas connected by forest corridors, establishing more and larger refuges to protect non-threatened as well as relict flora and fauna, acquiring fundamental knowledge of natural history of all species as a primary management tool, maintaining diversity and ecological equilibrium, and creating an informed and environmentally responsible citizenry through education and public relations.
- OSTI ID:
- 5824564
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9105268-; CODEN: VJSCA
- Journal Information:
- Virginia Journal of Science; (United States), Vol. 42:2; Conference: 69. annual meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, Blacksburg, VA (United States), 21-24 May 1991; ISSN 0042-658X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
MAMMALS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
VIRGINIA
ECOLOGY
ACID RAIN
CLIMATIC CHANGE
EDUCATION
FORESTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HABITAT
LAND USE
MOTHS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION III
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LEPIDOPTERA
NORTH AMERICA
RAIN
USA
VERTEBRATES
540210* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)