An Introduction to Disturbance Ecology: A Road Map for Wildlife Management and Conservation (Environmental Science and Engineering)

This book represents an introductory review of disturbance ecology and threat analysis, providing schematic concepts and approaches useful for work on sites that are affected by the impact of human actions. It is aimed at conservation and environmental practitioners, who will find tips for choosing methods and approaches when there are conflicts between the natural components and human activity. It is also addressed to students of applied ecology, ecosystem management, land-use planning and environmental impact assessment. It discusses a number of topics covered in the programs of many university courses related to basic ecology and ecology of disturbance, the latter constituting a field of great interest because of its implications and repercussions in applied territorial science. The book is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the theoretical and disciplinary framework of the ecology of disturbance, while the second is devoted to the analysis of anthropogenic threats. This, in particular, discusses the most recent approach, which uses a conventional nomenclature to allow a coarse-grained quantification and objective assessment of threat impact on different environmental components. Such an approach facilitates the comparison of hierarchically different events and, therefore, helps define the priorities for management and conservation strategies. Heterogeneity, Dynamism, and Diversity of Natural Systems.- The Concept of Disturbance.- Role and Effects of Disturbances in Natural Systems.- The Disturbance Regime.- Disturbances and Coexistence of Species.- Classification Criteria for Disturbance Events.- Categories of Natural Disturbances.- Anthropogenic Threats.- Nomenclature and Taxonomy of Threats.- Threat Regime.- Threat Quantification and Ranking.- Threat Mapping.- Including Threats in Adaptive Management.- Conclusions and Prospects.