Human Impacts on Ecosystem Dynamics

"An important extension of previous volumes and a valuable case study in community-based conservation."--Ian Powell "Biologist"

"This book illustrates the complexity of the challenges ahead for the Serengeti ecosystem, as well as the need for integrative, multidisciplinary approaches."--Nathalie Pettorelli "Ecoscience"

"Serengeti III belongs on the shelves of any ecological research or teaching library in the world, and in the private collections of all those who have a more than passing interest in African ecology."-- "African Zoology"

"The book brings much new material and novel analyses, particularly modeling expertise, to build on existing work. It also heralds a change of emphasis. . . . This is in recognition that in order to understand the changes Serengeti has seen and its different possible futures, it is necessary to move on from the biophysical 'hard' science to the difficult science of social, economic and political drivers. This is an exciting and groundbreaking move. . . . I am already looking forward to Serengeti IV."-- "Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice"

"This book builds on the previous two volumes on the Serengeti ecosystem. The first volume, Serengeti: The Dynamics of an Ecosystem synthesizes the previous twenty years of research on herbivore-carnivore population dynamics and vegetation-herbivore systems. The second, Serengeti II updates information on ecosystem dynamics, conservation, and changes brought about by a growing population of pastoralists and agriculturalists surrounding the Serengeti. Serengeti III focuses on major changes taking place in this ecosystem and their impact on the future, intensified by the growing human population near the protected area. In sixteen multiauthored chapters, ecologists, paleontologists, epidemiologists, economists, social scientists, and mathematicians report on a program that integrates socioeconomic research and decision making with ecological research. The goal is to develop a better understanding of the feedback loop between natural and human components of the Serengeti ecosystem. This work is best studied in the context of the other two volumes. The three together provide an unparalleled long-term study of natural and anthropogenic changes to a large, intact ecosystem and offer approaches to conservation. A critical addition to the conservation biology library. . . . Essential."-- "Choice" (3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)