Springer Central American Biodiversity: Conservation, Ecology, and a Sustainable Future

Product Description This book highlights key results and lessons learnt from two field sites, La Suerte in Costa Rica and Ometepe Nicaragua. It provides long term data on species abundance and distribution. Primates receive specific attention in this book, as they are flagship species and good indicators for the “health” of an ecosystem, but as well a money maker. Many primate species are sensitive to habitat alteration, and are often hunted out first. But they play an important role as seed dispersal agents for the regeneration of the forest. The book then compares results from the two field sites with regional trends, and explores potential solutions such as REDD+. This book strongly calls for new approaches in conservation, it makes the case for looking beyond the pure species biology and classic conservation angle and to take into account the economic and political realities. From the Back Cover This book highlights key results and lessons learned from two field sites: La Suerte in Costa Rica and Ometepe in Nicaragua. The content within provides long term data on species abundance and distribution, with specific attention paid to primates of the region. Primates are flagship species and good indicators for the health of an ecosystem. Many primate species are sensitive to habitat alteration, and are often hunted out first. They also play an important role as seed dispersal agents for the regeneration of the forest. Central American Biodiversity compares results from these two field sites with regional trends to explore potential solutions. This book strongly calls for new approaches in conservation, making the case for looking beyond pure species biology and classic conservation, encouraging the reader to take into account the economic and political realities. About the Author Dr. Falk Huettmann is Associate Professor in the Biology and Wildlife Department, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His research interests are in wildlife/habitat modeling, GIS and remote sensing, and data management worldwide.