This practical handbook of reptile field ecology and conservation brings together a distinguished, international group of reptile researchers to provide a state-of-the-art review of the many new and exciting techniques used to study reptiles. The authors describe ecological sampling techniques and how they are implemented to monitor the conservation status and population trends of snakes, lizards, tuatara, turtles, and crocodilians throughout the world. Emphasis is placed on the extent of statistical inference and the biases associated with different techniques and analyses.
The chapters focus on the application of field research and data analysis for achieving an understanding of reptile life history, population dynamics, movement patterns, thermal ecology, conservation status, and the relationship between reptiles and their environment. The book emphasises the need for thorough planning, and demonstrates how a multi-dimensional approach incorporates information related to morphology, genetics, molecular biology, epidemiology, statistical modelling, animal welfare, and biosecurity. Although accentuating field sampling, sections on experimental applications in laboratories and zoos, thermal ecology, genetics, landscape ecology, disease and biosecurity, and management options are included. Much of this information is scattered in the scientific literature or not readily available, and the intention is to provide an affordable, comprehensive synthesis for use by graduate students, researchers, and practising conservationists worldwide.
Part 1. Introduction 1: Laurie Vitt: Reptile diversity and life history 2: Robert N. Fisher: Planning and setting objectives in field studies 3: Richard Seigel: Data collection and storage Part 2. The Individual 4: John W. Ferner and Michael V. Plummer: Measuring and marking reptiles 5: Roberto Sacchi, Stefano Scali, Marco Mangiacotti, Marco Sannolo, Marco Alberto Luca Zuffi: Digital identification and analysis 6: Steve W. Gotte, Jeremy F. Jacobs, and George R. Zug: Preserving specimens for additional study 7: Gunther Köhler: Reproduction 8: Luca Luiselli and Giovanni Amori: Diet 9: Bruce Kingsbury and Nathan J. Robinson: Movement patterns and telemetry Part 3. Sampling Reptiles 10: John D. Willson: Surface-dwelling reptiles: coverboards, drift fences and arrays 11: Robert Henderson, Robert Powell, Jose Martín, and Pilar Lopez: Arboreal and fossorial reptiles 12: Xavier Bonnet, Arne R. Rasmussen and François Brischoux: Sea snakes 13: Richard Vogt: Freshwater turtles 14: Margaretha Hofmeyr and Brian Henen: Terrestrial turtles and tortoises 15: Seth Stapleton and Karen Eckert: Sea turtles 16: Charlie Manolis and Matt Brien: Crocodilians Part 4. Reptiles in the Community 17: Tiffany M. Doan: Plot and transect censuses 18: Indraneil Das: Rapid assessments of reptile diversity 19: Henry Mushinsky and Earl McCoy: Measuring microhabitats used by non-avian reptiles 20: Christine Bishop: Water quality and toxicology 21: C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.: Richness, diversity and similarity 22: Monika Böhm and Viorel D. Popescu: Landscape ecology, biogeography and GIS methods Part 5. Experimental Applications, Physiological Ecology, Genetics 23: Stephen J. Mullin: Experimental applications 24: Keith Christian, Richard Tracy, and Christopher Tracy: Body temperatures and the thermal environment 25: Nancy Fitzsimmons and Joanne Sumner: Genetics in field ecology and conservation Part 6. Trends Analysis and Conservation Options 26: Darryl MacKenzie: Occupancy models 27: Chris Sutherland and J. Andrew Royle: Estimating abundance 28: Elliott R. Jacobson: Disease, parasites, and biosecurity protocols 29: David A. Pike: Conservation management of reptiles 30: Brian Gratwicke, Matthew Neff, Lindsay Renick Mayer, Sharon Ryan, and Jennifer Sevin: Education and outreach
Ken Dodd is currently Courtesy Associate Professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. He has previously held positions at Mississippi State University as Assistant Professor in 1975, Staff Herpetologist at the Office of Endangered Species in the US Fish and Wildlife Service from 1976 to 1984, and Research Zoologist at the US Geological Survey from 1984 to 2007. He has published over 210 research and popular articles, book reviews and book chapters and edited the Amphibian volume in OUP's Techniques in Ecology and Conservation Series. He is a past President of the Herpetologists' League and was Associate Editor for the Journal of Herpetology for over 8 years. His professional interests are conservation biology, population ecology and demography, monitoring vertebrate populations, sampling approaches, and history of herpetology. Ken lives in Gainesville, Florida, with his wife Marian Griffey and their 8 cats and numerous turtles.
Reviews for Reptile Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques
The book not only contains a wealth of information, but is extremely well produced. This is an important collection of methods for all student of reptile ecology and conservation. * Herpetological Review *
