Inhaltsangabe:Introduction: Over 10% (1186 species) of the bird species in the world are threatened with extinction in the near future, almost all of them due to habitat change or loss by man. Likewise, 1130 mammals, 296 reptiles, 146 amphibians and 5611 plants have been identified as endangered species. The destruction of natural habitat is the major factor contributing to the global species extinction event. The increasing loss of biodiversity has centred on conducting inventories and monitoring species and habitats, especially in identifying areas of high species richness, threatened species and species of restricted or local distribution. In 1992 the UNCED-Conference in Rio de Janeiro pointed out the need for monitoring the environment, leading to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Agenda 21. Article 7 of the Convention on Biological Diversity deals with identification and monitoring, which are to be undertaken with sampling and other techniques. New methodologies with a view to undertaking systematic sampling and evaluation of the components of biological diversity are to be developed. While the number of identified threatened species has increased dramatically, a huge gap in knowledge of ecosystems and their fauna and flora remains. Distribution, status and ecology of species are mostly unknown in many countries, as is the degree they are endangered. In view of the immense unknown ecosystems in the world, a great number of which are located in developing countries, conventional survey and mapping methods cannot deliver the necessary information in a timely and cost-effective fashion. Nature conservation will require large volumes of Remote Sensing (RS) data if the quality of planning is to improve. With RS technology, we may be able to make real progress in understanding why more species occur in some places than in others and in identifying the most critical places that must be protected to preserve the maximum number of species into the 22nd century and beyond. As current air photos are often not available, satellite images are the sole source of data for many regions of the world. Fortunately, computer technology has improved enormously in the last years, mainly processing time, storage requirements as well as programme features and possibilities. Concurrent declining costs of computer hardware have favoured the design of new techniques for special data processing and combining remotely sensed information with other extensive [...]

Most environmental studies are based upon data collected at fine spatial scales plots, sediments, cores, etc.. Furthermore, temporal scales of these studies have been relatively short days, weeks, months and few studies have exceeded three years duration the typical funding cycle.; Despite this history, environmental scientists are now being called

The #1 selling wildlife management book for 40 years, now updated for the next generation of professionals and students. Since its original publication in 1960, The Wildlife Techniques Manual has remained the cornerstone text for the professional wildlife biologist. Now fully revised and updated, this eighth edition promises to be the most comprehensive resource on wildlife biology, conservation, and management for years to come. Superbly edited by Nova J. Silvy and published in association with The Wildlife Society, the 50 authoritative chapters included in this work provide a full synthesis of methods used in the field and laboratory. Chapter authors, all leading wildlife professionals, explain and critique traditional and new methodologies and offer thorough discussions of a wide range of relevant topics. To effectively incorporate the explosion of new information in the wildlife profession, this latest edition is logically organized into a 2-volume set: Volume 1 is devoted to research techniques and Volume 2 focuses on pragmatic management methodologies. Volume 1 describes research design and proper analytic methods prior to conducting research, as well as methods and considerations for capturing and handling wild animals and information on identification and marking of captured animals. It also includes new chapters on nutritional research and field sign identification, and on emerging topics, including structured decision-making. Finally, Volume 1 addresses measurements of wildlife abundance and habitat and research on individual animals. Volume 2 begins with a section on the relationship between research and management including public outreach, described in a context that encourages engagement prior to initiation of management. An adaptive management approach is described as a cornerstone of natural resource management, followed by a section on managing landscapes and wildlife populations. The volume also includes new chapters on ethics in wildlife science and conservation, conflict resolution and management, and land reclamation. A standard text in a variety of courses, the Techniques Manual, as it is commonly called, covers every aspect of modern wildlife management and provides practical information for applying the hundreds of methods described in its pages. This deft and thorough update ensures that The Wildlife Techniques Manual will remain an indispensable resource, one that professionals and students in wildlife biology, conservation, and management simply cannot do without.