L. David Mech
Lucyan David Mech ( born January 18, 1937 in Auburn, New York) is a U.S. amerikanisicher behavioral scientist who has made significant contributions to the understanding of lifestyles and behavior of wild wolves.
Career
Dave Mech studied until 1958 Nature Conservation at Cornell University in Ithaca and graduated in 1962 his doctoral examination in the field of wildlife ecology at Purdue University, Lafayette. He is also since 1979 assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Behavioral Biology (Dept. of Ecology and Behavioral Biology) from the University of Minnesota and is employed by the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (formerly Division of Endangered Species Research, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ) in the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota. Since 1978, David Mech, from 2009, together with Luigi Boitani, Chairman of the IUCN Wolf Specialist Group.
Professional work
His research focuses on the behavior and ecology of wolves, with so-called " predator-prey relationship " (better: Wolf- prey interaction) and population development. In addition, he has studied the social behavior within a wolf pack.
Since 1968, Dave Mech explored in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota, the development dynamics of the wolf population and its impact on the deer inventory. In the same way he has been working on Ellesmere Iceland since 1986 in Canada. Since 1997, he also studied the interactions of wolves and elk in Yellowstone National Park.
His results have helped to lighten the stereotypical understanding of the wolf and to recognize it as an important part of the natural habitat. Dave Mech is also active for the reintroduction of wolves into areas one of which it has disappeared due to human activities.
Publications
- Wolves of Isle Royale. United States Government Printing Office, 210pp, 1966.
- The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species. Doubleday, 1970, new edition 1981.