To illustrate some of the ways that we can employ a deliberate problem solving p
To illustrate some of the ways that we can employ a deliberate problem solving process, apply general heuristics, and look toward development of solution strategies, I offer some teaser problems. We’ll revisit these problems throughout the text where they serve as fodder for more targeted discussions of solution strategies. These problems vary in complexity and are in most cases fairly open-ended. As we’ve already discussed, these are features of real problems and though we may feel a bit of anxiety about that, we should also realize that this presents opportunities for creativity and ingenuity.
4.1 Waterfowl easements
To have the greatest benefit to migratory waterfowl, is it better to secure easements containing many small wetlands or fewer, larger wetlands?
One of the greatest threats to waterfowl populations is loss of habitat. Organizations like Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy have advocated for preservation and restoration of wetlands in key migration corridors and breeding areas. Among the strategies that organizations like this have used is acquisition of conservation easements, wherein a private land owner agrees to limit development on land containing quality habitat in exchange for benefits like management assistance and tax deductions. In practice, these organizations cannot accept all easement donations but need to prioritize those that will have the greatest long-term benefits to waterfowl. Thus the question: if all else is equal, is it better to prioritize a parcel with many small wetlands, or a parcel of the same size with fewer, large wetlands (Figure 4.1)?
4.2 Herbicide purchase
How much herbicide is needed to kill and suppress regrowth of invasive woody shrubs in a wooded urban park?
A common management problem in urban woodlands is the control of invasive or unwanted understory vegetation. In the midwestern USA, bush honeysuckles (genus Lonicera) and European buckthorn (genus Rhamnus) are particularly challenging to manage, and the most effective means of control is usually with herbicide. The simplest approach for many of these woody invasives is to cut all the stems and paint stumps with a general herbicide like glyphosate. So what must we know and determine to decide upon the quantity of glyphosate required?
4.3 Deer-automobile collisions
How likely are collisions between automobiles and whitetail deer in your county, and how might they be influenced by changes in deer population management?
If you live in an urban environment without open spaces and wildlife corridors, the answer to this may be easy: zero likelihood. But in many areas both periurban and rural, deer are a familiar sight. In these settings, deer-automobile collisions may unfortunately be all too common. We might infer that the frequency of collisions would be greater where both deer and drivers are more numerous, but can we quantify this?
4.4 Prairie dog plague
Is it possible to prevent the spread of Sylvatic plague through prairie dog colonies?
Y