Behaviour and Conservation: (Series Number 2 Conservation Biology)

How does an understanding of the behaviour of a given animal species contribute to its conservation? The answer to this question has profound consequences for our efforts to conserve endangered species. Behaviour and Conservation links the extraordinary advances that have been made in behavioural ecology over the last 30 years with the new discipline of conservation biology. It uses the power of an evolutionary approach to help solve problems in practical conservation, and suggests a new direction for behavioural ecology. The book addresses the ways in which behaviour and conservation interact, investigating the conservation impact of people, habitat loss and fragmentation, threats to wild populations of animals, conservation priorities and the use of behavioural approaches for conservation applications. Leading authorities in animal behaviour outline the relevance of their work to key problems in animal conservation for all researchers and students in the behavioural sciences and conservation biology.

Table of Contents:
Part I. Introduction: 1. Advances in the study of behaviour and their role in conservation William J. Sutherland and L. Morris Gosling; Part II. Conservation Impact of People: 2. The evolutionary ecology of human population growth Ruth Mace; 3. Grassland conservation and the pastoralist commons Monique Borgerhoff Mulder and Lore M. Ruttan; 4. Predicting the consequences of human disturbance from behavioral decisions Jennifer A. Gill and William J. Sutherland; 5. The role of behavioural models in predicting the ecological impact of harvesting John D. Goss-Custard, Richard Stillman, Andrew D. West, Selwyn McGrorty, Sarah E. A. le V. dit Durell and Richard W. C. Caldow; Part III. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: 6. Butterfly movement and conservation in patchy landscapes Chris D. Thomas, Michel Baguette and Owen T. Lewis; 7. Life history characteristics and the conservation of migratory shorebirds Theunis Piersma and Alan J. Baker; 8. Ranging behaviour and vulnerability to extinction in carnivores Rosie Woodroffe and Joshua R. Ginsburg; 9. Habitat fragmentation and swarm raiding army ants Graeme P. Boswell, Nigel R. Franks and Nick F. Britton; Part IV. Sexual Selection, Threats and Population Viability: 10. Sexual selection and conservation Anders Pape Møller; 11. Dispersal patterns, social organisation and population viability Sarah Durant; 12. Incorporating behaviour in predictive models for conservation Richard A. Pettifor, Ken J. Norris and J. Marcus Rowcliffe; 13. Controversy over behaviour and genetics in cheetah conservation Tim Caro; 14. The role of animal behaviour in marine conservation John D. Reynolds and Simon Jennings; Part V. Conservation Applications of Behaviour: 15. Communication behaviour and conservation Peter K. McGregor, Thomas M. Peake and Gillian Gilbert; 16. Reducing predation through conditioned taste aversion David P. Cowan, Jonathon C. Reynolds and Elaine L. Gill; 17. Retaining natural behaviour in captivity and in reintroduction programmes Michael P. Wallace; 18. Consequences of social perturbation for wildlife management and conservation Frank A. M. Tuyttens and David W. Macdonald; 19. Animal welfare and wildlife conservation Elizabeth L. Bradshaw and Patrick Bateson; Bibliography; Index.

Review :
' ... an excellent introduction to conservation biology for scientists like myself who have paid little attention to the area ... good reading and instructive ... I recommend it to all behavioural ecologists as a good way to explore the conservation consequences of their favourite subjects. It is likely a must for all those involved in teaching conservation.' Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Ecoscience 'The ideas and examples are generally explained in such a way that the book should appeal to the general reader as well as the specialist. Whether you are interested in conservation or the practical applications of behavioural ecology, you are likely to encounter thought provoking ideas in this book.' Paul Elliott, Biological Conservation '... this book provides food for thought, with an interesting melting pot of ideas and new perspectives.' Nigel Raine, Animal Conservation