The island fox
Subtitle: biology and conservation of an insular canid
By: Timothy S. Coonan, Catherin A. Schwemm,  David K. Garcelon.
Contributors: Schwemm, Catherin A.; Garcelon, David K.
Series: Ecology, biodiversity, and conservation
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 212
ISBN-13: 9780521887113
Subjects: Island gray fox; Island gray fox -- Conservation
Description: "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"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction; 2. Evolution and genetics; 3. Social structure, reproduction, and population dynamics; 4. Food habits, habitat use, and activity patterns; 5. Golden eagles and island fox declines on the Northern Islands; 6. Ecosystem recovery on the Northern Islands: predators and prey; 7. Disease and island fox declines on Catalina Island; 8. Recovery actions: captive breeding; 9. Recovery actions: reintroduction and translocation; 10. Reproductive biology Cheryl S. Asa; 11. Diseases of island foxes Linda Munson; 12. The role of zoos, education, and the public in island fox recovery; 13. Managing recovery: cooperative conservation, politics, and the Endangered Species Act; 14. The ecological role of island foxes; 15. Conclusion; References.