The Allegheny Woodrat

Once a common resident of the northeastern United States, the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) has now disappeared from areas where it was once abundant. The mystery of its decline has confounded biologists for three decades, but offers warnings for the future of other small, inconspicuous native mammals. Mammalogists John Peles and Janet Wright have synthesized current knowledge of the species in book form. The Allegheny Woodrat: Ecology, Conservation, and Management of a Declining Species provides the reader with a coherent, integrated picture illustrating the current status and distribution of the woodrat as well as the factors that have contributed to its decline. It provides background of the mammal's ecology and genetics and insight into its future through conservation initiatives and management programs.

Through hard lessons learned and relayed in the book, the editors and contributors hope to provide both good models for, and some caveats to, general principles that may be applied to the study of other declining species. It is a real and instructive study for ecology, management and conservation.

Résumé

A decline in populations of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) was first noticed in the 1980s. Since that time, woodrats have become extirpated from at least two states and have declined dramatically in several others. Recent evidence suggests that the decline of this species may be proceeding further south to include states where woodrat populations were previously considered to be stable.

The Allegheny Woodrat: Ecology, Conservation, and Management of a Declining Species provides a comprehensive summary of research conducted over the past twenty-five years. The book integrates the results of this research into a comprehensive picture of the ecological requirements, conservation principles, and management strategies for this declining species. In addition, general principles learned from the study of woodrats are applied to the conservation and management of other declining species, including other species of Neotoma.

The editors and chapter authors are researchers from both academic settings and state management agencies, individuals who have contributed significantly to the study of Allegheny woodrats during the past two decades. The book will be of interest to ecologists, conservation biologists, wildlife professionals, and students.

Contenu
History and Current Status.- History and Current Status of the Allegheny Woodrat.- Multiple Causes of the Allegheny Woodrat Decline: A HistoricalEcological Examination.- Ecology.- Woodrat Population Dynamics and Movement Patterns.- Home Range, Movements, and Habitat Selection.- Den Use Behavior of Allegheny Woodrats Inhabiting Rock Outcrops in Pennsylvania.- Food Selection and Caching Behavior.- Conservation and Management.- Lessons From Long-Term Monitoring of Woodrat Populations.- Managing Surface Rock Communities for Neotoma magister.- Genetic Diversity of Woodrats: Implications for Conservation.- Reintroduction of Woodrats: Concepts and Applications.- Status and Conservation of Other At-Risk Species of North American Woodrats.- Synthesis.- Synthesis: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future.