Introduction to Modelling in Wildlife And Resource Management
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This short book has been developed from a course that introduces students to the basic concepts of modelling and their applications in wildlife and resource conservation. The aim is to get students over the hump of thinking that modelling is difficult and mathematical, towards the stage where they appreciate that models are easily developed with the aid of a computer and can be a valuable learning aid and necessary adjunct to confronting real problems in conservation. The models are kept simple, and developed from first principles in a transparent way. The text is backed by computational models written using True BASIC as a programming language, which is simple enough to be readily understood. Students are encouraged to develop their own counterpart models using a spreadsheet format.Areas covered include large mammals, fishes and gamebirds, as well as the vegetation resources and habitats upon which these species depend. Broader principles governing sustainable use of the resources constituted by these populations and those of similar organisms are exemplified. The book could serve as an adjunct to textbooks in principles of ecology, in particular the book by Sinclair et al, Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation which is currently in press. Much is currently being written about the need to make biologists quantitatively, and particularly computer literate. Computational rather than mathematical approaches to modelling are emphasized so as not to put off the less mathematically inclined. Nevertheless in the process the students learn to confront equations and be inducted into how these equations govern dynamic outputs captured in graphs.
This book provides students with the skills to develop their own models for application in conservation biology and wildlife management. Assuming no special mathematical expertise, the computational models used are kept simple and show how to develop models in both spreadsheet and programming language format.Introduction to Modelling in Wildlife and Resource Conservation develops thought-provoking applications which emphasize the value of modelling as a learning tool. Beginning with basic descriptive equations, matrix representations and consumer-resources interactions, the book then goes on to explore applications in simulation, scenarios, harvesting, population viability, metapopulation dynamics, disease outbreaks, vegetation stage and state dynamics, habitat suitability assessment, and model selection statistics. Detailed instructions are given on how to construct spreadsheet models, and programmes are written in True BASIC which forms a readily understandable foundation language. Throughout the book a wide range of examples are used relating to birds, fish, plants and large African mammals.This book provides an essential introduction to modelling for upper level undergraduate and graduate students who have a completed a basic course in ecology and plan careers in wildlife conservation.
Introduction to Modelling in Wildlife and Resource Management,Norman Owen-smith,Blackwell Publishing, Incorporated,1405144394,Environmental Conservation & Protection - General,Nature,Nature/Ecology,Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection,WILDLIFE CONSERVATION,WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
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