Carnivores are the focus of intense attention and resources in conservation biology. It is often argued that, because carnivores are at the top of the food chain, if they are protected, then other taxa will also be afforded adequate protection. Carnivores are also charismatic and compete with humans for dwindling space and environmental resources. In the past 10 years, theoretical and empirical studies on carnivores have developed very quickly. This volume reviews and summarises the current state of the field, describes limitations and opportunities for carnivore conservation, and offers a conceptual framework for future research and applied management. As such it will be of interest to students and researchers of conservation biology, mammalogy, animal behaviour, ecology and evolution.
1. Why 'carnivore conservation'? John L. Gittleman, Stephan M. Funk, David W. MacDonald and Robert K. Wayne; Part I. Problems: 2. Past and future carnivore extinctions: a phylogenetic principle Andy Purvis, Georgina M. Mace and John L. Gittleman; 3. Interspecific competition and the population biology of extinction-prone carnivores Scott Creel, Göran Spong and Nancy Creel; 4. Strategies for carnivore conservation: lessons from contemporary extinctions Rosie Woodroffe; 5. Alien carnivores: unwelcome experiments in ecological theory David W. Macdonald and Michael D. Thom; 6. Carnivore introductions and invasions: their success and management options Luigi Boitani; 7. Hybridization and conservation of carnivores Robert K. Wayne and David M. Brown; 8. Carnivore demography and the consequences of changes in prey availability Todd K. Fuller and Paul R. Sievert; 9. Human-carnivore interactions: adopting proactive strategies for complex problems Marc Bekoff; 10. The control, exploitation and conservation of carnivores Warren E. Johnson, Eduardo Eizirik and Gina M. Lento; Part II. Some Approaches and Solutions: 11. Interdisciplinary problem solving in carnivore conservation: an introduction Tim W. Clark, David Mattson, Richard P. Reading and Brian J. Miller; 12. Assessment of carnivore reintroductions Urs Breitenmoser, Christine Breitenmoser-Würsten, Ludwig N. Carbyn and Stephan M. Funk; 13. Interactions between carnivores and local communities: conflict or co-existence? Claudio Sillero-Zubiri and Karen Laurenson; 14. New methods for obtaining and analyzing genetic data from free-ranging carnivores Pierre Taberlet, Gordon Luikart and Eli Geffen; 15. Applications of genetic concepts and molecular methods to carnivore conservation Warren E. Johnson, Eduardo Eizirik, Melody Roelke-Parker and Stephen J. O'Brien; 16. Role of reproductive sciences in carnivore conservation David E. Wildt, JoGayle Howard and Janine Brown; 17. Monitoring of terrestrial carnivore populations Eric M. Gese; Part III. Prospects for Research and Conservation: 18. Changing landscapes: consequences for carnivores Melvin E. Sunquist and Fiona Sunquist; 19. Behavior of carnivores in exploited and controlled populations Laurence G. Frank and Rosie Woodroffe; 20. The role of disease in carnivore ecology and conservation Stephan M. Funk, Christine V. Fiorello, Sarah Cleaveland and Matthew E. Gompper; 21. Geographic priorities for carnivore conservation in Africa M. G. L. Mills, Stephanie Freitag and Albert van Jaarsveld; 22. Estimating interpopulation dispersal rates Peter Waser, Curtis Strobeck and David Paetkau; 23. Setting priorities for carnivore conservation: what makes carnivores different? Joshua R. Ginsberg; 24. Conclusions: carnivore conservation: science, compromise and tough choices David W. Macdonald.
Reviews for Carnivore Conservation
'... fascinating reading ... a must for all fans of the carnivores, as well as students of conservation and carnivore biology.' Graham J. Holloway, Biologist ...editors Gittleman et al. have done a fine job...it will be particularly useful to students and teachers as well as field biologists...Editor David Macdonald, an award-winning writer, elegantly concludes the volume with a discussion of the broad social, moral, and economic questions that frame our options for carnivore conservation in the future. Book Marks
