Zoogeomorphology
Animals as Geomorphic Agents

This book examines the role of animals as geomorphic agents of landscape erosion, deposition and change.

David R. Butler (Author)

9780521433433, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 May 1995

240 pages, 66 b/w illus. 3 tables
23.6 x 15.7 x 2.3 cm, 0.576 kg

"...a handy reference for the general phenomena associated with zoogeomorphology....Perhaps its most valuable role will be to stimulate both biologists and geomorphologists to further investigate what are likely to be interesting and important influences of animals on the Earth's surface and near surface environment." O.J. Reichman, Quarterly Review of Biology

Animals as geomorphic agents have primarily been considered curiosities in the literature of geomorphology, whose spatial and quantitative influences have been seen as both limited and minor. Zoogeomorphology: Animals as Geomorphic Agents, which is wholly devoted to this topic, examines the distinct geomorphic influences of invertebrates, ectothermic vertebrates, birds and mammals, and demonstrates the importance of animals as landscape sculptors. Specific processes associated with the diversity of animal influences in geomorphology are examined, including burrowing and denning, nesting, lithophagy and geophagy, wallowing and trampling, food caching, excavating for food, and dam building by beavers. Particular emphasis is placed on terrestrial animals, although aquatic animals are also discussed where appropriate.

Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. The geomorphic influences of invertebrates
3. The geomorphic accomplishments of ectothermic vertebrates
4. Birds as agents of erosion, transportation and deposition
5. The geomorphic effects of digging for and caching food
6. Trampling, wallowing and geophagy by mammals
7. The geomorphic effects of mammalian burrowing
8. The geomorphic influence of beavers
9. Concluding remarks
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Palaeontology [RBX], Geological surface processes [geomorphology RBGD]