Dynamics of Large Herbivore Populations in Changing Environments: Towards Appropriate Models

Description

This book aims to reconcile theoretical models of population dynamics with what is currently known about the population dynamics of large mammalian herbivores. It arose from a working group established at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to address the need for models that better accommodate environmental variability, especially for herbivores dependent on changing vegetation resources. The initial chapter reviews findings from definitive long-term studies of certain other ungulate populations, many based on individually identifiable animals. Other chapters cover climatic influences, emphasising temperate versus tropical contrasts, and demographic processes underlying population dynamics, more generally. There are new assessments of irruptive population dynamics, and of the consequences of landscape heterogeneity for herbivore populations. An initial review of candidate population models is followed up by a final chapter outlining how these models might be modified to better accommodate environmental variability. The contents provide a foundation for resolving problems of diminishing large mammal populations in Africa, over-abundant ungulate populations elsewhere, and general consequences of global change for biodiversity conservation. This book will serve as a definitive outline of what is currently known about the population dynamics of large herbivores.Content: Chapter 1 Definitive Case Studies (pages 1–33): Norman Owen?Smith and Jason P. MarshalChapter 2 The Suite of Population Models (pages 34–62): Norman Owen?SmithChapter 3 Climatic Influences: Temperate–Tropical Contrasts (pages 63–97): Norman Owen?smithChapter 4 Demographic Processes: Lessons from Long?Term, Individual?Based Studies (pages 98–116): Jean?Michel Gaillard, Tim Coulson and Marco Festa?BianchetChapter 5 Irruptive Dynamics and Vegetation Interactions (pages 117–140): John E. Gross, Iain J. Gordon and Norman Owen?SmithChapter 6 How does Landscape Heterogeneity Shape Dynamics of Large Herbivore Populations? (pages 141–164): N. Thompson Hobbs and Iain J. GordonChapter 7 Towards an Ecology of Population Dynamics (pages 165–195): Norman Owen?Smith