Large Herbivore Ecology, Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation

Large herbivores are major drivers of the shape and function of terrestrial ecosystems. These animals modify primary production, nutrient cycles, soil properties and fire regimes, which all have an impact on the ecology of other organisms. Most large herbivores require some type of management within their habitats, as some species populations are at the brink of extinction and others occur in dense populations causing conflicts with other land uses. Because of the huge importance of herbivores in shaping a wide variety of ecosystems worldwide, it is important to understand how and why these communities function the way they do, and what implications this has not only for the conservation of the herbivores themselves but also for the conservation of the habitats as a whole. This book deals with the scientific basis for the management of herbivore populations. Book jacket.