Description
Book SynopsisThe conservation of vertebrate populations is a large component of many conservation projects and courses. This book offers a readable and comprehensive guide to conservation study techniques including the use of computer models, data analysis and study design, population monitoring, and decision making.
Trade Review"Overall, this would be a plausible book for an upper-division course in which students would learn, rather painlessly, the necessary combination of observation and mathematics necessary to make important conservation decisions." (
CHOICE, December 2009)
Table of ContentsPreface vii
Acknowledgements ix
Companion website and CD-ROM x
1 Introduction: the role of science in conservation 1
Part I Basic concepts in scientific investigations for conservation 7
2 Using models in conservation biology 9
3 Models of population dynamics 15
4 Applying population models to conservation 32
5 Basics of study design and analysis 47
Part II Conservation studies and monitoring programs 71
6 General principles of estimation 73
7 Occupancy (presence–absence) analysis 81
8 Sample counts for abundance estimation 101
9 Distance sampling for estimating density and abundance 115
10 Capture–mark–recapture studies for estimating abundance and density 135
11 Estimation of survival from radiotelemetry, nesting success studies, and age distributions 160
12 Mark–recapture for estimating survival, recruitment, abundance, and movement rates 189
13 Analysis of habitat 219
14 Estimation of species richness and other community parameters 230
Part III Integrating modeling and monitoring for conservation 251
15 Elements of conservation decision making 253
16 Accounting for uncertainty in conservation decisions 265
17 Learning and adaptive management 274
18 Case study: decision modeling and adaptive management for declining grassland birds in the southeastern USA 289
19 Summary and recommendations 303
Literature cited 307
Glossary 314
Appendix A: Statistical and modeling programs available on the worldwide web 324
Appendix B: Other internet resources 326
Appendix C: Modeling and statistical notation 328
Appendix D: Key to abundance and parameter estimation 331
Index 337
