Animals' Influence on the Landscape and Ecological Importance
Natives, Newcomers, Homecomers
Authors: Holtmeier, Friedrich-Karl
Free Preview- Addresses the functional role of animals in landscape ecosystems and the practical implications for landscape management and nature conservation
- Assesses the role of animals with special regard to the specific local socio-cultural and economic conditions
- Includes a section on climate change effects on animal-habitat interactions
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- About this book
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In its first English-language edition, this book introduces the many-faceted interactions of animal populations with their habitats. From soil fauna, ants and termites to small and large herbivores, burrowing mammals and birds, the author presents a comprehensive analysis of animals and ecosystems that is as broad and varied as all nature. Chapter 2 addresses the functional role of animals in landscape ecosystems, emphasizing fluxes of energy and matter within and between ecosystems, and the effects of animals on qualitative and structural habitat change. Discussion includes chapters on the role of animal population density and the impacts of native herbivores on vegetation and habitats from the tropics to the polar regions. Cyclic mass outbreaks of species such as the larch bud moth in Switzerland, the mountain pine beetle and the African red-billed weaver bird are described and analyzed. Other chapters discuss Zoochory – the dispersal of seeds by ants, mammals and birds – and the influence of burrowing animals on soil development and geomorphology. Consideration extends to the impact of feral domestic animals. Chapter 5 focuses on problems resulting from introduction of alien animals and from re-introduction of animal species to their original habitats, discusses the effects on ecosystems of burrowing, digging and trampling by animals. The author also addresses keystone species such as kangaroo rats, termites and beavers. Chapter 6 addresses the role of animals in landscape management and nature conservation, with chapters on the impact of newcomer species such as animals introduced into Australia, New Zealand and Europe, and the consequences of reintroduction of species to original habitat. It also discusses the carrying capacity of natural habit, public attitudes toward conversation and more. The final section ponders the effects of climate on interactions between animals and their habitats.
- Table of contents (8 chapters)
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Introduction
Pages 1-14
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Animal’s Functional Role in the Landscape
Pages 15-203
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Selected Landscapes Under the Influence of Wild Herbivorous Mammals
Pages 205-294
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Keystone Species
Pages 295-331
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Introductions and Re-introductions of Animals
Pages 333-437
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Table of contents (8 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
-
- Book Title
- Animals' Influence on the Landscape and Ecological Importance
- Book Subtitle
- Natives, Newcomers, Homecomers
- Authors
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- Friedrich-Karl Holtmeier
- Copyright
- 2015
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Copyright Holder
- Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
- eBook ISBN
- 978-94-017-9294-3
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-94-017-9294-3
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-94-017-9293-6
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-94-024-0367-1
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXXI, 522
- Number of Illustrations
- 106 b/w illustrations, 65 illustrations in colour
- Additional Information
- Original German Edition published by Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart, 2002
- Topics