Desert Puma: Evolutionary Ecology And Conservation Of An Enduring CarnivoreScientists and conservationists are beginning to understand the importance of top carnivores to the health and integrity of fully functioning ecosystems. As burgeoning human populations continue to impinge on natural landscapes, the need for understanding carnivore populations and how we affect them is becoming increasingly acute.Desert Puma represents one of the most detailed assessments ever produced of the biology and ecology of a top carnivore. The husband-and-wife team of Kenneth Logan and Linda Sweanor set forth extensive data gathered from their ten-year field study of pumas in the Chihuahua Desert of New Mexico, also drawing on other reliable scientific data gathered throughout the puma's geographic range. Chapters examine: the evolutionary and modern history of pumas, their taxonomy, and physical description a detailed description and history of the study area in the Chihuahua Desert field techniques that were used in the research puma population dynamics and life history strategies the implications of puma behavior and social organization the relationships of pumas and their preyThe authors provide important new information about both the biology of pumas and their evolutionary ecology -- not only what pumas do, but why they do it. Logan and Sweanor explain how an understanding of puma evolutionary ecology can, and must, inform long-term conservation strategies. They end the book with their ideas regarding strategies for puma management and conservation, along with a consideration of the future of pumas and humans. Desert Puma makes a significant and original contribution to the science not only of pumas in desert ecosystems but of the role of top predators in all environments. It is an essential contribution to the bookshelf of any wildlife biologist or conservationist involved in large-scale land management or wildlife management. |
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90 percent adult male pumas adult pumas animals annual home range associations average behavior biologists breeding bucks captured carnivores causes Chapter conservation cubs death decline desert bighorn sheep desert mule deer died dispersal dyads estrus fawns felids fidelity Florida panther genetic home range estimator Hornocker human hunting Idaho immigrants increase individuals kmē Lindzey litters locations Maehr male and female mates matrilineal metapopulation Mexico monitored months old mortality mothers mule deer natal areas number of adult observed offspring Oscura Mountains overlap pairs percent ADK period philopatric population dynamics prey probably progeny puma density puma habitat puma population puma predation puma predation rates puma's pumas killed radiotelemetry Reference Area reproductive success resident males Ross and Jalkotzy San Andres Mountains Seidensticker sex ratio sheep population sired species sport-hunting study area subadult survival rates Sweanor territorial males tion Treatment Area Tularosa Basin ungulate Utah Wildlife Management