Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes

Joshua Millspaugh (Edited by), Frank R. Thompson (Edited by)

9780123736314, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 14 October 2008

720 pages
23.4 x 19 x 3.8 cm, 1.43 kg

A single-resource volume of information on the most current and effective techniques of wildlife modeling, Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes is appropriate for students and researchers alike. The unique blend of conceptual, methodological, and application chapters discusses research, applications and concepts of modeling and presents new ideas and strategies for wildlife habitat models used in conservation planning. The book makes important contributions to wildlife conservation of animals in several ways: (1) it highlights historical and contemporary advancements in the development of wildlife habitat models and their implementation in conservation planning; (2) it provides practical advice for the ecologist conducting such studies; and (3) it supplies directions for future research including new strategies for successful studies.

Intended to provide a recipe for successful development of wildlife habitat models and their implementation in conservation planning, the book could be used in studying wildlife habitat models, conservation planning, and management techniques. Additionally it may be a supplemental text in courses dealing with quantitative assessment of wildlife populations. Additionally, the length of the book would be ideal for graduate student seminar course.

Using wildlife habitat models in conservation planning is of considerable interest to wildlife biologists. With ever tightening budgets for wildlife research and planning activities, there is a growing need to use computer methods. Use of simulation models represents the single best alternative. However, it is imperative that these techniques be described in a single source. Moreover, biologists should be made aware of alternative modeling techniques. It is also important that practical guidance be provided to biologists along with a demonstration of utility of these procedures. Currently there is little guidance in the wildlife or natural resource planning literature on how best to incorporate wildlife planning activities, particularly community-based approaches. Now is the perfect time for a synthestic publication that clearly outlines the concepts and available methods, and illustrates them.

Introduction
Section I: Concepts
Review of Approaches to Assessing Habitat Quality
Importance of a Landscape Perspective
Methods for Population Viability Analysis
Factors Driving Landscape Change
Forest Planning on Federal Lands
Forest Planning for Private Industrial Lands
Human Dimensions of Landscape Change and Conservation Planning
Economic Principles of Conservation Planning
Multi-Species Conservation Planning
Section II: Methods
Analyzing Landscapes in GIS
Simulating Landscape Change Using LANDIS
Simluating Landscape Change Using LMS
Modeling Understory Vegetation
Determining Population viability
Landscape Visualization
Spatial and Temporal Optimization
Predicting Species Occurrence
Validation of a Landscape Simulation Model
Large Landscape HSI Models and Software
Section III: Applications
Hoosier and Mark Twain National Forest Planning
Habitat Networks for Terrestrial Wildlife in the Colubmia Basin
Habitat Conservation Plans for Spotted Owls
Partners in Flight and NABCI
Fire Application
Assessment of Wildlife Habitat
Section IV: Summary
Summary and Future Directions of Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes
Appendix: Software for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes

Subject Areas: Conservation of wildlife & habitats [RNKH]