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Does economy dictate ecology?

So how much human disturbance can nature take?

Tourists are increasingly turning their interest to wildlife. So far so good, an interest in nature is healthy, but what happens if they are too many at the same time?  

I looked at The Kittlitz's Plover at two soda lakes in the Rift Valley, with different levels of human disturbance. The choice of method was survey and an experimental study using artificial eggs. The outcome implies that breeding density and success was lower at the site with high human disturbance, i.e. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.

Ultimately this study is conservation oriented and understanding the impact humans have on wildlife populations can help us in improving conservation and management decisions conserning species and habitats.  


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Last updated: 06/01/06