Customer Reviews

Wildlife Ecology, Conservation and Management

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Are you studying at the graduate and undergraduate level in the area of wildlife management and conservation? If you are, this book is for you! Authors Anthony R. E. Sinclair, John M. Fryxell and Graeme Caughley, have written an outstanding 2nd edition of a book about how conservation has become an increasingly important component in the management of animal populations and their habitats.

Sinclair, Fryxell and Caughley, begin with an explanation about what wildlife management is, how it relates to conservation, and how it should operate. Then, they provide a brief overview of the main ecological divisions in the world and supply a background of natural history. The authors continue by outlining the mechanisms by which the evolutionary process of speciation , convergence, and radiation come about. In addition, they also discuss food and nutrition. The authors also consider how ecological constraints shape the behavior of individual organisms and, conversely, the effect of individual behavior on the dynamics of populations and communities. Then, the authors deal with the internal workings of a population that result in a change of population size. Next, they explore some of the reasons why populations are found where they are. Then, the authors describe the theory and evidence for the stability of populations through regulations. Next, they review the competition and facilitation between species. The authors continue by describing the behavior of predators with respect to prey. They also introduce parasitism and disease within wildlife populations. In addition, they also explore those things an animal needs to eat to survive and reproduce resources. Next, they deal with the counting of animals. Then, the authors explore age and stage structures. Next, they explore the methods for choosing between such alternative models or hypotheses. The authors continue by explaining how a technical judgment can be evaluated, by posing it as a question. They also deal with theory that has been developed to account for why and how populations become extinct. In addition, they review actual extinctions or near extinctions to show what are the commonest causes of extinction in practice. Next, the authors consider how to estimate an appropriate offtake for a wildlife population. Then, they show you how a control operation is similar to a sustained-yield exercise but is conceptually more complex. Finally, the authors put the various aspects that they have discussed throughout the rest of the book into the context of the ecosystem to show how these are pertinent to management and conservation.

The authors have also provided a CD that illustrates in close detail how to calculate most of the mathematical concepts discussed in this most excellent book, including all of the simulation models. To further the development of problem-solving skills, the authors also included a series of computer labs, touching on several key concepts.

This is a most excellent book. Aimed at the intermediate to advanced student Sinclair et al.'s book covers an enormous amount of ground with detail and grace. The authors manage to pull the best out of the lessons that wildlife ecology, conservation biology, and habitat management should have taught us over the past 30 years, and present the results in clear insightful prose. While this book is not for the faint of heart -it does NOT scrimp on mathematical modelling- the examples presented are straight and to the point, and running it by a small seminar of (admittedly clever) undergrads I found them well able to keep up with what was going on. What I really like about WECAM (excuse the abbreviation) is the real attempt to integrate the three often all-too-disconnected "disciplines" of the title. Throughout one gets the sense that these folks are professionals who have been out in the field AND ALSO in front of the computer and are presenting stuff that has really worked for them. Beyond the text itself there is a useful glossary of terminology plus an exhaustive Lit. Cited that is worth the price of admission by itself. -oh yeah, speaking of price. this book is significantly cheaper than other texts in the field, has a CD with working examples of the models attached, and even in paperback is well constructed & won't fall apart in student backpacks when you tell 'em to "bring the book" on overnight field trips. Most Excellent!

I am completely satisfied with my purchase. The book is in perfect condition and came with a cd. My purchase arrived quickly, which is exactly what I needed. Thank you Amazon for another job well done.

This book was in great condition and arrived on time as stated. It was less expensive than the texts available at the University, a great deal!