Wildlife restoration: techniques for habitat analysis and animal monitoring

Abstract

Wildlife Restoration links restoration ecology and wildlife management in an accessible and comprehensive guide to restoring wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. It offers readers a thorough overview of the types of information needed in planning a wildlife-habitat restoration project and provides the basic tools necessary for developing and implementing a rigorous monitoring program. The book: - explains the concepts of habitat and niche: their historic development, components, spatial-temporal relationships, and role in land management - reviews how wildlife populations are identified and counted - considers captive breeding, reintroduction, and translocation of animals - discusses how wildlife and their habitat needs can be incorporated into restoration planning - develops a solid justification for monitoring and good sampling design in restoration projects - discusses and critiques case histories of wildlife analysis in restoration projects The author does not offer a cookbook approach, but rather provides basic tools for understanding ecological concepts that can be used to design restoration projects with specific goals for wildlife. He focuses on developing an integrated approach to large-scale landscape restoration. In addition, he provides guidance on where more advanced and detailed literature can be found. Wildlife Restoration sets forth a clear explanation of key principles of wildlife biology for the restorationist, and will allow wildlife biologists to bring the insights of their field to restoration projects. It is an essential source of information for everyone involved with studying, implementing, or managing wildlife restoration projects, including students, ecologists, administrators, government agency staff, and volunteer practitioners.