The economics of a stage-structured wildlife population model
Abstract
A simple three-stage model of the Scandinavian moose (Alces alces) (young, adult female and adult male) is formulated. Fecundity is density dependent while mortality is density independent. Two different harvesting regimes are explored: hunting for meat, and trophy hunting. The paper gives an economic explanation of the biological notion of females as ‘valuable’ and males as ‘non-valuable’. The paper also demonstrates how this notion may change under shifting economic and ecological conditions.