In just the last few years, behavioral ecologists have begun to
address issues in conservation biology. This volume is the first
attempt to link these disciplines formally. Here leading researchers
explore current topics in conservation biology and discuss how
behavioral ecology can contribute to a greater understanding of
conservation problems and conservation intervention programs. In each
chapter, the authors identify a conservation issue, review the ways it
has been addressed, review behavioral ecological data related to it,
including their own, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the
behavioral ecological approach, and put forward specific conservation
recommendations. The chapters juxtapose different studies on a wide
variety of taxonomic groups. A number of common themes emerge,
including the ways in which animal mating systems affect population
persistence, the roles of dispersal and inbreeding avoidance for
topics such as reserve design and effective population size, the key
role of humans in conservation issues, and the importance of baseline
data for conservation monitoring and modeling attempts. Each chapter
sheds new light on conservation problems, generates innovative avenues
of interdisciplinary research, and shows how conservation-minded
behavioral ecologists can apply their expertise to some of the most
important questions we face today.