Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness
In a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kiełpińska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21004738 |
| _version_ | 1831723925795504128 |
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| author | Anders Galatius Jonas Teilmann Morten Tange Olsen Floris M. van Beest |
| author_facet | Anders Galatius Jonas Teilmann Morten Tange Olsen Floris M. van Beest |
| author_sort | Anders Galatius |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kiełpińska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions with regard to grey seal biology, particularly life history, population structure and movements. The actual modelling exercise is intransparent and there is no discussion or account for uncertainties or ecological complexities. K&K do not mention or review the existing literature on the outcomes of marine mammal culls or investigations of the role of grey seals in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but state an imperative that aquatic top predators must be controlled. Ecosystem modelling has indicated that fisheries and a large grey seal population can coexist and that culling of marine top predators can have unpredictable and unintended effects. Given the flawed assumptions, lack of regard for uncertainty and complexity as well as the actual knowledge gaps, we suggest great caution in the use of K&K’s model. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:12:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c366d56b043c47d08214f261d0c8f59f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:12:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-c366d56b043c47d08214f261d0c8f59f2022-12-21T19:16:25ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-08-01127107808Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darknessAnders Galatius0Jonas Teilmann1Morten Tange Olsen2Floris M. van Beest3Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Corresponding author.Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, DenmarkGlobe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353 Copenhagen K, DenmarkDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, DenmarkIn a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kiełpińska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions with regard to grey seal biology, particularly life history, population structure and movements. The actual modelling exercise is intransparent and there is no discussion or account for uncertainties or ecological complexities. K&K do not mention or review the existing literature on the outcomes of marine mammal culls or investigations of the role of grey seals in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but state an imperative that aquatic top predators must be controlled. Ecosystem modelling has indicated that fisheries and a large grey seal population can coexist and that culling of marine top predators can have unpredictable and unintended effects. Given the flawed assumptions, lack of regard for uncertainty and complexity as well as the actual knowledge gaps, we suggest great caution in the use of K&K’s model.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21004738Grey sealBaltic SeaCullingSeals-fisheries conflictsModellingManagement |
| spellingShingle | Anders Galatius Jonas Teilmann Morten Tange Olsen Floris M. van Beest Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness Ecological Indicators Grey seal Baltic Sea Culling Seals-fisheries conflicts Modelling Management |
| title | Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness |
| title_full | Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness |
| title_fullStr | Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness |
| title_short | Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness |
| title_sort | response to kielpinska and kowalski a stab in a self imposed darkness |
| topic | Grey seal Baltic Sea Culling Seals-fisheries conflicts Modelling Management |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21004738 |
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