The Beaver: Natural History of a Wetlands Engineer (Comstock books)

Dietland Muller-Schwarze; Lixing Sun

ISBN 10: 080144098X / ISBN 13: 9780801440984

Published by Comstock Pub. Associates, 2003

Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G080144098XI3N01

Synopsis:

Beavers can and do dramatically change the landscape. The beaver is a keystone species - their skills as foresters and engineers create and maintain ponds and wetlands that increase biodiversity, purify water and prevent large-scale flooding. Biologists have long studied their daily and seasonal routines, family structures and dispersal patterns. As human development encroaches into formerly wild areas, property owners and government authorities need new, non-lethal strategies for dealing with so-called nuisance beavers. At the same time, the complex behaviour of beavers intrigues visitors at parks and other wildlife viewing sites because it is relatively easy to observe. In an illustrated and comprehensive book on beaver biology and management, Dietland Muller-Schwarze and Lixing Sun gather a wealth of scientific knowledge about both the North American and Eurasian beaver species. "The Beaver" is designed to satisfy the curiosity and answer the questions of anyone with an interest in these animals, from students who enjoy watching beaver ponds at nature centres to homeowners who hope to protect their landscaping. Photographs taken by the authors document every aspect of beaver behaviour and biology, the variety of their constructions and the habitats that depend on their presence. Beaver facts: Just as individual beavers shape their immediate surroundings, so did the distribution of beavers across North America influence the paths of English and French explorers and traders. As a result of the fur trade, beavers were wiped out across large areas of the United States. Reintroduction efforts led to the widespread establishment of these resilient animals, and now they are found throughout North America, Europe, and parts of the southern hemisphere. Some beavers remain in the home lodge for an extra year to assist their parents in raising younger siblings. They feed, groom, and guard the newborn kits. In 1600, beaver ponds covered eleven percent of the upper Mississippi and Missouri Rivers' watershed above Thebes, Illinois. Restoring only 3 percent of the original wetlands might suffice to prevent catastrophic floods such as those in the early 1990s.

Review: "The Beaver: Natural History of a Wetlands Engineer by Dietland Muller-Schwarze and Lixing Sun is a modern synthesis of the beaver's ecology. It is a pleasure to read. The prose is easy to follow, as is the logic, and the insights about the beaver's biology are enlightening. This book is most suitable for a broad audience and ought to enjoy a great following. For the technical reader there is a good reference section following each chapter, as there needs to be, since the book goes beyond natural history and also deals with contentious management issues. It is thus more than an introduction to an animal that played a very great role in the history of North America. This synthesis also poses challenges for the future. This book should not be missing from a wildlife manager's book shelf." Valerius Geist, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science, The University of Calgary"

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Beaver: Natural History of a Wetlands ...
Publisher: Comstock Pub. Associates
Publication Date: 2003
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket