2nd Edition

Wildlife Habitat Management Concepts and Applications in Forestry, Second Edition

By Brenda C. McComb Copyright 2016
    402 Pages 183 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    401 Pages 183 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Shortlisted for the 2018 TWS Wildlife Publication Awards in the authored book category



    In recent years, conflicts between ecological conservation and economic growth forced a reassessment of the motivations and goals of wildlife and forestry management. Focus shifted from game and commodity management to biodiversity conservation and ecological forestry. Previously separate fields such as forestry, biology, botany, and zoology merged into a common framework known as conservation biology and resource professionals began to approach natural resource problems in an interdisciplinary light.



    Wildlife Habitat Management: Concepts and Applications in Forestry presents an integrated reference combining silvicultural and forest planning principles with principles of habitat ecology and conservation biology. With extensive references and case studies drawn from real situations, this book begins with general concepts such as habitat selection, forest composition, influences on habitat patterns, and the dynamics of disturbance ecology. It considers management approaches for specific habitats including even-aged and uneven-aged systems, riparian areas, and dead wood and highlights those approaches that will conserve and manage biodiversity. The author discusses assessment and prioritization policies, monitoring techniques, and ethical and legal issues that can have worldwide impact. Detailed appendices provide a glossary, scientific names, and tools for measuring and interpreting habitat elements. Writing in a species-specific manner, the author emphasizes the need to consider the potential effects of management decisions on biodiversity conservation and maintains a holistic approach throughout the book.

    Drawing from the author’s more than 30 years working and teaching in natural resources conservation, Wildlife Habitat Management: Concepts and Applications in Forestry provides a synopsis of current preservation techniques and establishes a common body of knowledge from which to approach the conservation of biodiversity in the future.

    Introduction
    What Is Habitat?
    Forests as Habitat
    Case Study: The Forests of British Columbia
    Summary
    References
    Humans as a Forest-Dependent Species
    Ecological Restoration and Ecosystem Services
    Social Values Associated with Forests and Wildlife
    Public Resources on Private Lands
    Case Study: Environmental Activism and Effects on Habitat
    Summary
    References
    Vertebrate Habitat Selection
    Hierarchical Selection
    Density-Dependent Habitat Selection
    Relationship between Habitat Quality and Demographics
    Measuring Habitat Selection
    Proximate and Ultimate Cues to Habitat Quality
    Case Study: American Marten Habitat Selection
    Summary
    References
    Forest Structure and Composition
    Food and Cover in a Cellulose-Managed System
    Summary
    References
    Physical Influences on Habitat Patterns
    The Physical Environment
    Summary
    References
    Cultural Effects on Habitat Patterns
    Land Use
    Climate Change
    Invasive Species
    Synergistic Effects
    Case Study: Passenger Pigeons, Humans, and Forests
    Summary
    References
    Disturbance Ecology and Habitat Dynamics
    Disturbance Size and Pattern
    Disturbance Severity
    Disturbance Frequency
    Disturbance Frequency, Size, Severity Relationships
    Stand Dynamics
    Succession as a Continuum of Habitat Elements
    Summary
    References
    Silviculture and Habitat Management: Even-Aged Systems
    Silviculture as a Forest Disturbance
    Characteristics of Even-Aged Stands
    Case Study: Douglas-Fir Plantation
    Summary
    References
    Silviculture and Habitat Management: Uneven-Aged Systems
    Characteristics of Uneven-Aged Stands
    Considering the Site Potential
    Uneven-Aged Regeneration Methods
    Natural Regeneration and Planting Options
    Uneven-Aged Stand Development
    Habitat Elements in Uneven-Aged Stands
    Challenges to Using Uneven-Aged Methods
    Nontraditional Management Approaches
    Case Study: Managing a Small Privately Owned Forest
    Summary
    References
    Desired Future Conditions
    Developing the Stand Prescription
    Case Study: Growing Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat
    Summary
    References
    Riparian Area Management
    Animal Associations with Riparian Areas
    Gradients within Riparian Zones
    Riparian Functions
    Riparian Buffers
    Case study: Riparian Area Management in a Patchwork Ownership
    Summary
    References
    Dead Wood Management
    Primary Cavity Excavators
    Secondary Cavity Users
    Log Users
    Patterns of Dead Wood Following Disturbance
    Management of Tree Cavities and Dead Wood
    Effects of Biofuels Management on Dead-Wood-Dependent Species
    Summary
    References
    Managing Fire in Forests
    Effects of Fire on Habitat Elements and Succession
    Changing Fire Risk through Management
    Summary
    References
    Urban Forests and Habitat Elements
    Defining Urban Forests along an Urban-Rural Continuum
    How Some Species Interpret the s’Built Environment?"
    Finding Spaces for Habitat Management
    Habitat Elements Limiting Species in Urban and Suburban Settings
    Urban Streams and Wetlands
    Urban Expansion, Wetlands, and Mitigation
    Managing Trees, Parks, and Forests in Urban Settings
    Summary
    References
    Landscape Structure and Composition
    Living on the Edge
    Habitat Fragmentation
    Summary
    References
    Landscape Connections
    Dispersal
    Connectivity and Gap-Crossing Ability
    Case Study: Matrix Management for a Wide-Ranging Species
    Summary
    References
    Managing Woodlands in Agricultural Environments
    Values of Woodlots to Landowners
    Edge Effects in Agricultural Settings
    Loss of Forests in Industrial Agricultural Settings
    Field and Farm Management That Influences Woodlot Function
    Specialty Crops and Agroforestry
    Organic versus Traditional Agriculture
    Multifunctional Landscapes
    Certification of Agricultural Lands for Wildlife: The Role of Trees
    Summary
    References
    Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation
    What is Biodiversity?
    Setting Biodiversity Goals
    How Do We Conceptualize "Biodiversity" to Be Able to Conserve It?
    Challenges to Managing Biodiversity
    Summary
    References
    Landscape Management Plans
    Establishing Goals
    Current Conditions
    Desired Future Conditions
    Pathways to Desired Future Conditions
    Developing the Landscape Management Plan
    Plan Effectiveness
    Summary
    References
    Ecoregional Assessments and Conservation Priorities
    Ecoregional Assessments
    Examples of Ecoregional Assessments
    Aßeßing Patterns of Habitat Availability and Quality
    Summary
    References
    Viable Populations in Dynamic Forests
    Extinction Risks
    Goals of PVAs
    PVA Models
    Conducting a PVA for a Forest-Associated Species
    Examples of PVA Analyses
    Model Errors and Uncertainties
    Interpreting Results from PVA Projections
    Summary
    References
    Monitoring Habitat Elements and Populations
    Adaptive Management
    Designing Monitoring Plans
    Is Data Already Available and Sufficient?
    Making Decisions with Data
    Examples of Approaches to Monitoring
    Summary
    References
    Forest Sustainability and Habitat Management
    Defining the Resources to be Sustained
    Scales of Sustainability
    Humans are Part of the System
    Forest Certification
    Sustaining and Marketing Ecosystem Services: Habitat Banking
    Summary
    References
    Regulatory and Legal Considerations
    International Laws and Agreements
    Policy Analysis
    How Decisions in the United States Influence Habitat in the World
    Case Study: The Endangered Species Act and Climate Change
    Summary
    References
    Should I Manage the Forest?
    What Does Restoration Mean?
    Developing a Personal Management Philosophy
    Summary
    References
    Common and Scientific Names of Species Mentioned in the Text
    Glossary
    Measuring and Interpreting Habitat Elements
    Wildlife-Habitat Relationships Models
    Projecting Habitat Elements through Time

    Biography

    Brenda C. McComb, PhD, is Professor and Dean, Graduate School, Oregon State University, Corvallis. She is responsible for over 80 graduate programs and 4500 graduate students at a large research intensive university, having spent much of her 36-year career engaged in natural resources research, teaching, outreach, and administration.