Key Topics in Landscape Ecology: Key Issues in Theory, Methodology, and Applications, edited by R. J. Hobbs and Jianguo Wu. 2007. Cambridge University Press. 400 pp. ISBN 0521850940. Landscape ecology is a relatively new area of study, which aims to understand the pattern of interaction of biological and cultural communities within a landscape. This book brings together leading figures from the field to provide an up-to-date survey of recent advances, identify key research problems and suggest a future direction for development and expansion of knowledge. Providing in-depth reviews of the principles and methods for understanding landscape patterns and changes, the book illustrates concepts with examples of innovative applications from different parts of the world. Forming a current ‘state-of-the-science’ for the science of landscape ecology, this book forms an essential reference for graduate students, academics, professionals and practitioners in ecology, environmental science, natural resource management, and landscape planning and design. Contents: 1. Perspectives and prospects on landscape ecology — R. Hoobbs and Jianguo Wu; 2. Adequate data of know accuracy are critical to advancing the field of landscape — L. R. Iverson; 3. Landscape pattern analysis: key issues and challenges — H- Li and J. Wu; 4. Spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem processes — M. G. Turner and J. A. Cardille; 5. Landscape heterogeneity and metapopulation dynamics — L. Falirig; 6. Determining pattern-process relationships in heterogeneous landscapes — R. H. Gardner, J. D. Forester and R. E. Plotkick; 7. Scale and scaling: a cross-disciplinary perspective — J. Wu; 8. Optimization of landscape pattern — J. Hof and C. Flather; 9. Advances in detecting landscape changes at multiple scales: examples of northern Australia -J. A. Ludwig; 10. The preoccupation of landscape research with land use and land cover — M. Antrop; 11. Applying landscape-ecological principles to regional conservation: the wild Country Project in Australia; 12. Using landscape ecology to make sense of Australia's last frontier — D. Bowman; 13. Transferring ecological knowledge to landscape planning: a design method for robust corridors — C. C. Vos, P. Opdam, E. G. Steingröver and R. Reijnen; 14. Integrative landscape research: facts and challenges — G. Fry, B. Tress and G. Tress; 15. Landscape ecology: the state of the science — J. Wu and R. Hobbs.
Primate Anti-Predator Strategies, edited by Sharon L. Gursky and K. A. I. Nekaris. 2007. Springer. 369pp. ISBN: 978-0387348070. Part of the Series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Since the 1960s, primatologists have recognized the impact of predation on the evolution of morphology, the social systems and cognitive behavior of monkeys and apes, but few studies considered its impact on the prosimians — lemurs, lorises, galagos and tarsiers. This comprehensive volume, written by experts in the field, narrows this gap by highlighting the effect of predation on the order Primates in general. Theoretical approaches to understanding how primates perceive predation threat, as well as proximate and ultimate causes to address threat and attack, are considered across the primate order. Although this volume concentrates on the least known group in this theoretical area — the prosimians — contributions by researchers on numerous primate taxa across four major geographical regions make this a novel and exciting contribution to students interested in primate evolution and ecology. Contents: 1. Predation and Primate cognitive evolution — K. Zuberbühler; 2. Predation on Primates: A biogeographical Analysis — D. Hart; 3. Primates and other prey in the seasonally variable diet of Cryptoprocta ferox in the dry forest of western Madagascar — L. Dollar, J. U. Ganzhorn and S. M. Goodman; 4. Predation on Lemurs in the rainforest of Madagascar by multiple predator species: Observations and experiments — S. M. Karpanty and P. C. Wright; 5. Predation, comunication and cognition in Lemurs — M. Scheumann, A. Rabesandratana and E. Zimmermann; 6. A consideration of leaping locomation as a means of predator avoidance in Prosimian Primates — R. H. Crompton and W. I. Sellers; 7. Anti-predator strategies of Cathemeral Primates: Dealing with predators of the day and night — I. C. Colquhoun; 8. Moonlight and behavior in nocturnal and cathemeral Primates, especially Lepilemur leucopus: Illuminating possible anti-predator efforts — L. T. Nash; 9. A comparison of calling patterns in two nocturnal primates, Otolemur crassicaudatus and Galago moholi as a guide to predation risk — S. K. Breader; 10. Predator defense by Slender Lorises and Pottos — K. A. I. Nekaris, E. R. Pimley and K. M. Ablard; 11. The response of spectral tarsiers toward avian and terrestrial predators — S. L. Gursky; 12. Talking defensively, a dual use for brachial and exudate of slow and pygmy Lorises — L. R. Hagey, B. G. Fry and H. Fitch-Snyder; 13. Anti-predator strategies in diurnal Prosimian, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar — L. Gould and M. L. Sauther; 14. Howler monkeys and harpy eagles: A communication arms race — R. Gil-da-Costa; 15. Effects of habitat structure on perceived risk of predation and anti-predator behavior of vervet (Cerocpithecus aethiops) and patas (Erythrocebus patas) monkeys — K. L. Enstam; 16. Predation risk and habitat use in Chacma Baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) — R. A. Hill and T. Weingrill; 17. Reconstructing hominin interactions with mammalian carnivores — A. Treves and P. Palmqvist.
Ecological Census Techniques, edited by W. J. Sutherland. 2006. Cambridge University Press. 448 pp. ISBN: 978-0521606363. This is an updated version of the best selling first edition, Ecological Census Techniques, with updating, some new chapters and authors. Almost all ecological and conservation work involves carrying out a census or survey. This practically focussed book describes how to plan a census, the practical details and shows with worked examples how to analyse the results. The first three chapters describe planning, sampling and the basic theory necessary for carrying out a census. In the subsequent chapters international experts describe the appropriate methods for counting plants, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. As many censuses also relate the results to environmental variability, there is a chapter explaining the main methods. Finally, there is a list of the most common mistakes encountered when carrying out a census. Contents: 1. Planning a research programme — W. J. Sutherland; 2. Principles of sampling — J. J. D. Greenwood and R. A. Robinson; 3. General census methods — J. J. D. Greenwood and R.A. Robinson; 4. Plants — J. M. Bullock; 5. Invertebrates — M. Ausden and M. Drake; 6. Fish — I. M. Côté and M. R. Perrow; 7. Amphibians — T. R. Halliday; 8. Reptiles — S. Blomberg and R. Shine; 9. Birds — D. W. Gibbons and R. D. Gregory; 10. Mammals — C. Krebs; 11. Environmental variables — J. C. Jones, J. D. Reynolds and D. Raffaelli; 12. The twenty commonest censusing sins — W. J. Sutherland.
Primates in Perspective, edited by C. J. Campbell, A. Fuentes, K. C. MacKinnon, M. Panger and S. K. Bearder, 2006. Oxford University Press. 736 pp. ISBN: 9780195171334. It is the first edited volume to offer a comprehensive overview of primatology since 1987. Forty-four original essays—by fifty-nine leading researchers in the field today—provide wide-ranging and contemporary coverage of all of the major areas of primatology. Arranged in six sections, the text begins with an introduction to primatology and a review of the natural history of the major taxonomic groups within the order Primates. It goes on to cover methodologies and research design for both field and captive settings; primate reproduction; primate ecology and conservation and their roles in the daily lives of primates; and such aspects of social behavior and intelligence as communication, learning, and cognition. The volume ends with a concluding chapter by the editors that discusses the future of primatological research. Ideal for introductory primatology courses, Primates in Perspective can also be used in upper-division behavior and conservation courses. Additionally, it is an invaluable reference tool for primate researchers.
Mamíferos del Ecuador — Guía de Campo, por Diego Tirira. Ediciones Murciélago Blanco. 576pp. ISBN: 9978-44-6516. La más completa obra sobre la fauna de mamíferos del Ecuador que se haya publicado hasta el presente, con más de 380 especies descritas. Para cada especie se incluye información sobre: Identificación (Principales medidas morfométricas, Descripción de características externas y patrones de coloración), Historia Natural (Ecología, patrones de actividad, sociabilidad, hábitos alimenticios, refugios, áreas de vida, territorios, locomoción, estrato utilizado y reproducción, Etología), Sonidos, Distribución y Habitat (región, rango altitudinal, tipos de bosques, más de 350 mapas de distribución), Situación Actual (Categorías de amenaza y protección según el Libro Rojo de los mamíferos del Ecuador, UICN y CITES, principales amenazas y perspectivas de sobrevivencia de la especie, Áreas protegidas). Además, claves de identificación, guía de huellas, comentarios taxonómicos, referencias bibliográficas seleccionadas y anexos. Para mayor información visitar: < http://www.murcielagoblanco.com/mamiferosdelecuador/publicaciones.htm#negro>.
Managing Protected Areas: A Global Guide. Edited by Michael Lockwood, Graeme Worboys and Ashish Kothari, 2006. Published with IUCN. 800PP. ISBN: 9781844073030. Managing Protected Areas is an authoritative handbook, produced by IUCN that spans the full terrain of protected area management and is the international benchmark for all professionals, students and academics worldwide. The book employs dozens of detailed international cases studies, hundreds of concise topical snapshots, maps, tables, illustrations and a colour plate section, as well as evaluation tools, checklists and numerous appendices to cover all aspects of park management from biodiversity to natural heritage to financial management, he book establishes a conceptual underpinning for protected area management, presents guiding principles for the 21st century, reflects recent work on international best practice and provides an assessment of skills required by professionals. The publication is relevant to the full range of management systems worldwide, balancing more traditional, developed country approaches with developing country systems including participatory, integrated, multi-sectoral and value-driven approaches. Contents: Introduction, Part I: Setting the Context, Natural Heritage, Social Context, Global Protected Area Framework, Values and Benefits, Threats to Protected Areas, Governance, Process of Management, Building Capacity, Part II: Principles and Practice, Establishing Protected Areas, Obtaining, Managing and Communicating Information, Management Planning, Finance and Economics, Administration, Sustainability Practice and Sustainable Use, Operations Management, Natural Heritage Management, Cultural Heritage Management, Managing Threats, Incident Management, Tourism and Recreation, Collaborative Management, Community Conserved Protected Areas, Linking the Landscape, Marine Protected Areas, Evaluating Management Effectiveness, Building Support, Futures and Visions.
The Conservation Project Manual. Edited by Colin Bibby and Claire Alder, 2003. BP Conservation Programme, Cambridge UK. ISBN: 1901930394. The basic aim of this book is to help people to improve the process by which they go about planning and managing small to medium-sized conservation projects. By using a number of tried and tested methods and illustrative examples, the manual will enable users to work through their own concepts and create a project plan. The manual is founded on the belief that a good plan makes the fundraising and subsequent implementation and management of a project easier and success more likely. The book is divided in seven sections: Section 1 Why Plan?, Section 2 Knowing where to fit in, Section 3 Planning a Projetc, Section 4 Fundraising principles, Section 5 Project Implementation, Section 6 Monitoring and Evaluation, and Section 7 Sources for Further Information. This book is available in the web at < http://conservation.bp.com/advice/project.asp>.