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Think of deer and the image that pops into most American's minds is that of a white-tailed deer, the most common large mammal in North America. Most Europeans are more familiar with red deer. It may surprise many people to know that there are actually about 50 species of deer found throughout the world. Here, readers will find nontechnical, expert information about the wide range of diverse deer species. Did you know that elk and caribou are deer? Or that the earliest fossils of deer are 15 to 20 million years old? Have you ever wondered whether deer swim, play, or see color? How do deer avoid predators and survive the winter? Do deer make good pets or carry contagious diseases? George A. Fe...
Readers will find new insight into the lives of the world's horses, zebras, and asses, understand the basis of our relationships with these animals, and develop a greater understanding of where equids come from and why they are worth conserving.Included in this book are detailed, state-of-the-science syntheses on Social structure, behavior, and cognition Habitat and diet Ecological niches Population dynamics Roles of humans in horse distribution through time Human dimensions and the meaning of wild Management of free-roaming horses Captive breeding of wild equids Conservation of wild equids Conservation of migrations Reintroductions Genetics and paleogenetics
Because carnivores are at the top of the food chain, their status is an important indicator of the health of the world ecosystem. They are intensely interesting to zoologists and uniquely intriguing to the general public. Devoted primarily to terrestrial carnivores, this volume focuses on such themes as carnivore reintroduction programs and the ethics of studying carnivores, drawing examples from a variety of species. The need to evaluate new conceptual ideas and empirical data inspired this volume of Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, a complement to the original book. In the eight years since publication of the first volume, conservation has emerged as a thematic imperative. The s...
This is the first scholarly book on the antelope that dominates the savanna ecosystems of eastern and southern Africa. It presents a synthesis of research conducted over a span of fifty years, mainly on the wildebeest in the Ngorongoro and Serengeti ecosystems, where eighty percent of the worldÕs wildebeest population lives. Wildebeest and other grazing mammals drive the ecology and evolution of the savanna ecosystem. Richard D. Estes describes this process and also details the wildebeestÕs life history, focusing on its social organization and unique reproductive system, which are adapted to the animalÕs epic annual migrations. He also examines conservation issues that affect wildebeest, including range-wide population declines.
This book is an authoritative work on the ecology of some of America's most iconic large mammals in a natural environment - and of the interplay between climate, landscape, and animals in the interior of the world's first and most famous national park.Central Yellowstone includes the range of one of the largest migratory populations of bison in North America as well as a unique elk herd that remains in the park year round. These populations live in a varied landscape with seasonal and often extreme patterns of climate and food abundance. The reintroduction of wolves into the park a decade ago resulted in scientific and public controversy about the effect of large predators on their prey, a d...
The status of many carnivore populations is of growing concern to scientists and conservationists, making the need for data pertaining to carnivore distribution, abundance, and habitat use ever more pressing. Recent developments in “noninvasive” research techniques—those that minimize disturbance to the animal being studied—have resulted in a greatly expanded toolbox for the wildlife practitioner. Presented in a straightforward and readable style, Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores is a comprehensive guide for wildlife researchers who seek to conduct carnivore surveys using the most up-to-date scientific approaches. Twenty-five experts from throughout North America discuss str...
This collection of essays is the first major work in more than a decade to discuss the critical issue of wildlife contraception and the first ever to take up contraception-both theory and practice-for wild animals in captivity. The authors, leading international experts on the subject, analyze the use of wildlife contraception for various animal populations, including nonhuman primates, ungulates, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and other mammals. The chapters examine and critique types of contraception, and their effects, and explore the best method for each situation. Using the most recent data and findings, this comprehensive collection addresses problems related to unrestricted population growth, the ethics of wildlife contraception, and regulatory issues for wildlife managers, animal rights organizations, zoos worldwide, and anyone interested in the humane control of animal populations.
This book addresses theoretical and pragmatic issues concerning naturalistic environments in captivity for animals. The multidisciplinary orientation of the volume will help regulatory personnel, administrators, and researchers to understand each others roles and responsibilities in the design, construction, and real-time operation of these facilities. The book also highlights the important value of naturalistic environments in captivity to the scientific study of animal behavior. The authors provide insights into identifying physical environmental features not in compliance with existing regulations, and that may have a negative impact on the physical health and psychological well-being of animals.