The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids (Oxford Biology)

Wild canids are fascinating ancestors of the domestic dog. This definitive book on aspects of canid biology and the conservation of wolves, dogs, jackals and foxes covers topics relevant to modern conservation science, and features detailed case studies of many canid species across the globe. A must-have for all scientists studying carnivores, predators, cooperative breeding, and social systems. A useful text for both undergraduate and graduate courses in behavioural ecology and conservation biology, and engaging reading for a wide range of wolf and domestic dog enthusiasts. No group of wild mammals so universally captures the emotions of people world-wide than do wild canids. That emotion can be enchantment and fascination, but it can also be loathing, because the opportunism that is the hallmark of the dog family also leads them into conflict with humans. In the developed world at least, the fascination with wild canids doubtless stems from people's captivation with domestic dogs - everybody feels they are an expert on canids! While most people may be familiar with only the better known members of the dog family, such as the grey wolf and the red fox, there are in fact 36 species of wolves, dogs, jackals and foxes. They attract hugely disproportionate interest from academics, conservationists, veterinarians, wildlife managers and the general public. This book brings together in single volume an astonishing synthesis of research done in the last twenty years and is the first truly compendious synthesis on wild canids. Beginning with a complete account of all 36 canid species, there follow six review chapters that emphasise topics most relevant to canid conservation science, including evolution and systematics, behavioural ecology, population genetics, diseases, conflict/control of troublesome species, and conservation tools. Fifteen detailed case studies then delve deeply into the very best species investigations currently available written by all the leading figures in the field. Much of the material is previously unpublished and will make fascinating reading far beyond the confines of canid specialists. These chapters portray the unique attributes of wild canids, their fascinating (and conflictive) relationship with man, and suggestions for future research and conservation measures for the Canidae. While most canid species are widespread and thrive in human dominated landscapes, several are in severe jeopardy; habitat loss, illegal hunting, persecution by farmers and disease all imperil dwindling populations. A final chapter analyses the requirements of, and approaches to, practical conservation, with lessons that go far beyond the dog family. It concentrates particular attention on priorities for the protection of the most threatened canid species, including the red wolf, African wild dog, Ethiopian wolf, Island fox and Darwin's fox. The wild canids provide examples that will thrill the evolutionary biologists and theoretician, enthral the natural historian and challenge the conservationist and wildlife manager. Anybody interested in evolutionary and behavioural biology, in mammals, in the environment, or in conservation will find much that is new and enriching in this book. No group of wild mammals so universally captures the emotions of people worldwide than do wild canids. That emotion can be enchantment and fascination, but it can also be loathing, because the opportunism that is the hallmark of the dog family also leads them into conflict with humans. While most people may be familiar with only the better known members of the dog family, such as the grey wolf and the red fox, there are in fact 36 species of wolves, dogs, jackals and foxes.This book brings together in a single volume an astonishing synthesis of research from the last twenty years and is the first truly compendious synthesis on wild canids. Beginning with a complete account of all 36 canid species, there follow six review chapters that emphasise topics most relevant to canid conservation science, including evolution and systematics, behavioural ecology, population genetics, diseases, conflict/control of troublesome species, and conservation tools. Fifteen detailed case studies then delve deeply into the very best species investigations currently available, written by all the leading figures in the field. These chapters portray the unique attributes of wild canids, their fascinating (and conflictive) relationship with man, and suggestions for future research and conservation measures for the Canidae. A final chapter analyses the requirements of, and approaches to, practical conservation, with lessons that go far beyond the dog family. It concentrates particular attention on priorities for the protection of the most threatened canid species, including the red wolf, African wild dog, Ethiopian wolf, island fox and Darwin's fox.The wild canids provide examples that will thrill the evolutionary biologist and theoretician, enthral the natural historian and challenge the conservationist and wildlife manager. Anybody interested in evolutionary and behavioural biology, in mammals, in the environment, or in conservation will find much that is new and enriching in this book. This Work On The Dog Family Deals With The Many Aspects Of The Biology And Conservation Of Wolves, Dogs, Jackals And Foxes. It Covers Many Topics Relevant To Modern Conservation Science, And Features Detailed Case Studies Of Many Canid Species Across Theglobe. Dramatis Personae / David W. Macdonald And Claudio Sillero-zubiri -- Ancestry / Xiaoming Wang [and Others] -- Population Genetics / Robert K. Wayne, Eli Geffen And Carles Vilà -- Society / David W. Macdonald, Scott Creel And Michael G.l. Mills -- Management / Claudio Sillero-zubiri, Jonathan Reynolds And Andrés J. Novaro -- Infectious Disease / Rosie Woodroffe [and Others] -- Tools / Luigi Boitani, Cheryl S. Asa And Axel Moehrenschlager -- Arctic Foxes / Anders Angerbjörn, Pall Hersteinsson And Magnus Tannerfeldt -- Island Foxes / Gary W. Roemer -- Swift And Kit Foxes / Axel Moehrenschlager [and Others] -- Blanford's Foxes / Eli Geffen -- Red Foxes / Philip J. Baker And Stephen Harris -- Raccoon Dogs / Kaarina Kauhala And Midori Saeki -- Bat-eared Foxes / Barbara Maas And David W. Macdonald -- Patagonian Foxes / Andrés J. Novaro, Martín C. Funes And Jaime E. Jiménez -- Jackals / David W. Macdonald, Andrew J. Loveridge And Robert P.d. Atkinson -- Coyotes / Eric M. Gese -- Grey Wolves -- Isle Royale / John A. Vucetich And Rolf O. Peterson -- Grey Wolves -- Yellowstone / Michael K. Phillips [and Others] -- Ethiopian Wolves / Claudio Sillero-zubiri [and Others] -- Dholes / Arun B. Venkataraman And A.j.t. Johnsingh -- African Wild Dogs / Scott Creel, Michael G.l. Mills And J. Weldon Mcnutt -- Conservation / David W. Macdonald And Claudio Sillero-zubiri. Edited By David W. Macdonald And Claudio Sillero-zubiri. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [371]-429) And Index. Dramatis personae /David W. Macdonald and Claudio Sillero-Zubiri --Ancestry /Xiaoming Wang ... [et al.] --Population genetics /Robert K. Wayne, Eli Geffen and Carles Vilà --Society /David W. Macdonald, Scott Creel and Michael G.L. Mills --Management /Claudio Sillero-Zubiri, Jonathan Reynolds and Andrés J. Novaro --Infectious disease /Rosie Woodroffe ... [et al.] --Tools /Luigi Boitani, Cheryl S. Asa and Axel Moehrenschlager --Arctic foxes /Anders Angerbjörn, Pall Hersteinsson and Magnus Tannerfeldt --Island foxes /Gary W. Roemer --Swift and kit foxes /Axel Moehrenschlager ... [et al.] --Blanford's foxes /Eli Geffen --Red foxes /Philip J. Baker and Stephen Harris --Raccoon dogs /Kaarina Kauhala and Midori Saeki --Bat-eared foxes /Barbara Maas and David W. Macdonald --Patagonian foxes /Andrés J. Novaro, Martín C. Funes and Jaime E. Jiménez --Jackals /David W. Macdonald, Andrew J. Loveridge and Robert P.D. Atkinson --Coyotes /Eric M. Gese --Grey wolves - Isle Royale /John A. Vucetich and Rolf O. Peterson --Grey wolves - Yellowstone /Michael K. Phillips ... [et al.] --Ethiopian wolves /Claudio Sillero-Zubiri ... [et al.] --Dholes /Arun B. Venkataraman and A.J.T. Johnsingh --African wild dogs /Scott Creel, Michael G.L. Mills and J. Weldon McNutt --Conservation /David W. Macdonald and Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Contents......Page 12 List of contributors......Page 14 Part I: Reviews......Page 16 1 Dramatis personae......Page 18 2 Ancestry......Page 54 3 Population genetics......Page 70 4 Society......Page 100 5 Management......Page 122 6 Infectious disease......Page 138 7 Tools......Page 158 Part II: Case studies......Page 176 8 Arctic foxes......Page 178 9 Island foxes......Page 188 10 Swift and kit foxes......Page 200 11 Blanford’s foxes......Page 214 12 Red foxes......Page 222 13 Raccoon dogs......Page 232 14 Bat-eared foxes......Page 242 15 Patagonian foxes......Page 258 16 Jackals......Page 270 17 Coyotes......Page 286 18 Grey wolves—Isle Royale......Page 300 19 Grey wolves—Yellowstone......Page 312 20 Ethiopian wolves......Page 326 21 Dholes......Page 338 22 African wild dogs......Page 352 Part III: A Conservation perspective......Page 366 23 Conservation......Page 368 References......Page 388 A......Page 446 B......Page 447 C......Page 448 D......Page 450 E......Page 451 F......Page 452 G......Page 453 H......Page 454 J......Page 455 M......Page 456 O......Page 458 P......Page 459 R......Page 460 S......Page 462 T......Page 463 V......Page 464 Z......Page 465 ## Abstract This book is about the dog family, covering ancestry, population genetics, society, infectious disease, and the use of tools. Fourteen case studies examine Arctic foxes, Island foxes, Swift foxes, Blanford's foxes, Red foxes, Raccoon foxes, Bat-eared foxes, Patagonian foxes, Jackals, Coyotes, Grey wolves, Ethiopian wolves, Dholes, and African wild dogs. The concluding chapter looks at conservation issues.