All "facts" are opinions, some more widely accepted, at least currently, than others. This is a book of opinions. They are my opinions about what ideas are widely accepted and used as a basis for wildlife management. I have called these ideas principles because education in the biological aspects of wildlife management tends to be divided into three parts, commonly referred to as principles, practices or techniques, and life histories of important animals.
The book is intended primarily as a text for an early course in the college curriculum of aspiring professional wildlife biologists. I have assumed the readers will have mastered courses in general biology, both zoology and botany, and a course in ecology. Much of wildlife management is applied ecology, and some of what I have written here will overlap with the contents of many texts in ecology. However, I have found that most texts and courses in ecology do not emphasize the applications of ecology to the management of wildlife populations and habitats. Therefore, some overlap seems necessary.
No chapter provides a complete review of the literature. The papers cited were selected because (1) I was familiar with them, (2) some are considerred classics by the profession, (3) many provide good examples, (4) some provide access to numerous additional sources on their subjects, and (5) in total, they demonstrate the great diversity of sources of ideas that are usefulin wildlife management.
Part 1 Wildlife Conservation
Part 2 Wildlife Biology
Part 3 Wildlife Ecology
Part 4 Population Dynamics
Part 5 Wildlife Management
Literature Cited
Photo Credits
Sources of Chapter Opening Quotations
Index