African Ark: Mammals, landscape and the ecology of a continent

Description

The story of how Africa’s mammals have helped shape the continent’s landscapes over time to support an amazing diversity of life Africa is home to an amazing array of animals, including the world’s most diverse assortment of large mammals. These include the world’s largest terrestrial mammal, the African elephant, which still roams great swathes of the continent alongside a host of other well-known large mammals with hooves such as hippopotamuses, giraffes, rhinoceroses, and zebras. African Ark: Mammals, Landscape and the Ecology of a Continent tells the story of where these mammals have come from and how they have interacted to create the richly varied landscape that makes up Africa as we know it today. It gives an equal airing to small mammals, such as rodents and bats, which are often overlooked by both naturalists and zoologists in favor of their larger cousins. African Ark not only describes the diversity of African mammals and the habitats in which they live; it also explains the processes by which species and population groups are formed and how these fluctuate over time. A book on mammals would not be complete without attention placed on the impact of megafauna on the environment and the important roles they play in shaping the landscape. In this way, mammals such as elephants and rhinoceros support countless plant communities and the habitats of many smaller animals. The book brings in a human perspective as well as a conservation angle in its assessment of the interaction of African mammals with the people who live alongside them. African Ark is at once scientifically rigorous and accessible for the layperson and student alike, while drawing on the contributions of numerous zoologists, ecologists and conservationists dedicated to the understanding of Africa and its wildlife. FRONT COVER HALF TITLE TITLE PAGE COPYRIGHT CONTENTS LIST OF PLATE PHOTOGRAPHS LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOREWORD PROLOGUE Mammals and Landscapes – the Evolution of a Continent CHAPTER 1 A Continent of Plenty CHAPTER 2 The Species Conundrum CHAPTER 3 The History of Africa’s Mammals CHAPTER 4 Islands as Species Factories CHAPTER 5 Evolution on the African Mainland CHAPTER 6 Giant Mammals Shaping the Landscape PLATE PHOTOGRAPHS CHAPTER 7 A Place for Every Species CHAPTER 8 Fluctuating Populations CHAPTER 9 The Human Factor CHAPTER 10 The Sinking Ark? GLOSSARY NOTES REFERENCES RECOMMENDED READING INDEX BACK COVER