Synopses & Reviews
Decline and Recovery of the Island Fox is the first account of the natural history and ecology of the smallest canid in North America, and describes the conservation efforts applied to save this species from extinction. Island foxes occur only on the California Channel Islands, and populations on four of the islands nearly went extinct in the 1990s due to human-mediated predation and disease. Recovery of these populations required intense conservation actions such as captive breeding and reintroduction, and large-scale ecosystem manipulation. These actions were successful due in large part to extraordinary collaboration among the scientists, managers, and public advocates involved in the recovery effort. Some aspects of island fox biology, characteristic of the 'island syndrome' helped facilitate recovery, including high productivity and an apparent adaptation to periodic genetic bottlenecks. The book illustrates the vulnerability of island ecosystems and species and the efficacy of cooperative conservation measures.
Synopsis
Native only to the California Channel Islands, the island fox is the smallest canid in North America. Populations on four of the islands were threatened to extinction in the 1990s due to human-mediated predation and disease. This is the first account of the natural history and ecology of the island fox, illustrating both the vulnerability of island ecosystems and the efficacy of cooperative conservation measures. It explains in detail the intense conservation actions required to recover fox populations, such as captive breeding and reintroduction, and large-scale ecosystem manipulation. These actions were successful due in large part to extraordinary collaboration among the scientists, managers and public advocates involved in the recovery effort. The book also examines the role of some aspects of island fox biology, characteristic of the 'island syndrome', in facilitating their recovery, including high productivity and an apparent adaptation to periodic genetic bottlenecks.
Synopsis
Written for both conservation biologists and general readers, this book is the first account of the rare island fox, which lives only on six southern California islands. The species was driven nearly to extinction in the 1990s but has since recovered due to extraordinary conservation measures.