List of boxes.
List of symbols.
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
PART I: Background to applied population biology.
1. The Big Picture: Human population dynamics meets applied population biology.
Introduction.
Population ecology of humans.
Extinction rates of other species.
Humans and sustainable harvest.
The big picture.
Further reading.
2. Designing studies and interpreting population biology data: how do we know what we know?.
Introduction.
Obtaining reliable facts through sampling.
Linking observed facts to ideasmind leads to understanding.
Ethics and the wildlife population biologist.
Summary.
Further reading.
3. Genetic concepts and tools to support wildlife population biology.
Introduction.
What is genetic variation?.
Genetic markers used in wildlife population biology.
Insights into wildlife population biology using genetic tools.
Summary.
Further reading.
4. Estimating population vital rates.
Estimating abundance and density.
Survival estimation.
Estimation of reproduction.
Sex ratio.
Summary.
Further reading.
PART II: POPULATION PROCESSES: THE BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT.
5. The simplest way to describe and project population growth: exponential and geometric change.
Introduction.
Fundamentals of geometric or exponential growth.
Causes and consequences of variation in population growth.
Quantifying population growth in a stochastic environment.
Summary.
Further reading.
6. Density dependent population change.
Introduction.
Negative density dependence.
Positive density dependence.
The logistic: one simple model of negative density-dependent population growth.
Some counterintuitive dynamics: limit cycles and chaos.
Summary.
Further reading.
7. Accounting for age and sex-specific differences: population projection models.
Introduction.
Anatomy of a population-projection matrix.
How timing of sampling affects the matrix.
Projecting a matrix through time.
Adding stochasticity to a matrix model.
Sensitivity analysis.
Case studies.
Summary.
Further reading.
8. Predation and wildlife populations.
Does predation affect prey numbers?.
Factors affecting how predation impacts prey numbers.
Summary.
Further reading.
9. Genetic Variation and Fitness of Wildlife Populations.
Introduction.
Long-term benefits of genetic variation.
What determines levels of genetic variation in populations?.
Quantifying the loss of heterozygosity: the inbreeding coefficient.
When does inbreeding lead to inbreeding depression?.
What to do when faced with inbreeding depression?.
General Rules.
Summary.
Further reading.
10. Dynamics of Multiple Populations.
Introduction.
Connectivity among populations.
Measuring connectivity among wildlife populations.
Multiple populations are not all equal.
Options for restoring connectivity.
Summary.
Further reading.
PART III: APPLYING KNOWLEDGE OF POPULATION PROCESSES TO PROBLEMS OF DECLINING, SMALL, OR HARVESTABLE POPULATIONS.
11. Human Perturbations: Deterministic Factors Leading to Population Decline.
Introduction.
General effects of deterministic stressors on populations.
Habitat loss and fragmentation.
Introduced and invasive species.
Pollution.
Overharvest.
Global climate change.
Synergistic effects among deterministic stressors.
Summary.
Further reading.
12. Predicting the dynamics of small and declining populations.
Introduction.
Ecological characteristics predicting risk.
The extinction vortex.
Predicting risks in small populations.
Population viability analysis: quantitative methods of assessing viability.
Other approaches to assessing viability.
Some closing thoughts about assessing viability.
Summary.
Further reading.
13. Bridging applied population and ecosystem ecology with focal species concepts.
Introduction.
Flagship species.
Umbrella species.
Indicator species.
Keystone species and strong interactors.
Summary.
Further reading.
14. Population biology of harvested populations.
Introduction.
Effects of hunting on population dynamics.
Long term effects: hunting as a selective force.
Models to guide sustainable harvests.
Waterfowl harvest and adaptive harvest management.
Management of overabundant and pest populations.
Summary.
Further reading.
Epilogue.
References.
Species lists.
Subject index.
L. Scott Mills is a Professor in the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana. His research and teaching integrates field studies with population models and genetic analyses to understand effects of human perturbations on wildlife populations.
"An outstanding text highly suitable for our postgraduate students
and even conservation scientists, offering an international
perspective into the discipline of conservation and management of
wildlife populations … .Mills has been particularly effective in
getting down to the simple nuts and bolts of what may appear to be
daunting concepts and equations for either the conceptually or
statistically challenged ecologist." (New Zealand Journal of
Ecology, Winter/Spring 2008) “A well-organized, well-written, and
entertaining introduction to the study of population biology
….Mills uses personal experience as a tool to infuse his message of
ethics.” (Ecology)
“[Mills] writes in an engaging style … .Avoiding the temptation to
see the world in black and white, Mills emphasizes that uncertainty
is as much a part of conservation biology as the conceptual
foundations and quantitative tools that make up our collective
toolbox. Mills generally presents concepts in very understandable
terms … he backs these up with numerous examples from his work and
the broader literature. With this book under their belt, students
will have the foundation to pursue more advanced coursework and
understand why they should. In doing this, Mills has succeeded in
filling an important void.” (Conservation Biology)
“Scott Mills has written a valuable advanced text for those who
will be practitioners of wildlife management. Provides a nice blend
of the negative human effects often seen in conservation texts,
balanced with the importance of proactive wildlife management.
Those looking for an advanced text on population management with
numerous examples and effective integration of demography and
genetic concepts along with a variety of standard and more recent
management approaches will find this text a valuable resource.”
(Journal of Heredity)
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