Quantitative Conservation of Vertebrates (ePub)

This book provides a hands-on introduction to the construction and
application of models to studies of vertebrate distribution,
abundance, and habitat. The book is aimed at field biologists,
conservation planners, and advanced undergraduate and postgraduate
students who are involved with planning and analyzing conservation
studies, and applying the results to conservation decisions. The
book also acts as a bridge to more advanced and mathematically
challenging coverage in the wider literature.

Part I provides a basic background in population and community
modeling. It introduces statistical models, and familiarizes the
reader with important concepts in the design of monitoring and
research programs. These programs provide the essential data that
guide conservation decision making. Part II covers the principal
methods used to estimate abundance, occupancy, demographic
parameters, and community parameters, including occupancy sampling,
sample counts, distance sampling, and capture-mark-recapture (for
both closed and open populations). Emphasis is placed on practical
aspects of designing and implementing field studies, and the proper
analysis of data. Part III introduces structured decision making
and adaptive management, in which predictive models are used to
inform conservation decision makers on appropriate decisions in the
face of uncertainty--with the goal of reducing uncertainty
through monitoring and research. A detailed case study is used to
illustrate each of these themes.

Numerous worked examples and accompanying electronic material
(on a website - href="http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/conroy">http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/conroy -
and accompanying CD) provide the details of model construction and
application, and data analysis.