Noted with interest

Foundations for advancing animal ecology. Morrison, M. L., L. A. Brennan, B. G. Marcot, W. M. Block, and K. S. McKelvey. 2020. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA. xvi + 192 pp. US$69.95 (hardcover). ISBN 978-1-4214-3919-8.

This book delves into the shortcomings in animal ecological research and offers valuable insights. The authors argue that ecological knowledge often fails to translate into management practice due to a lack of focus on biological populations, rather than a shortage of funding or time. They assert that technological advancements and sophisticated statistical analyses have not significantly enhanced understanding or improved management of wildlife. Instead, they advocate for focusing on factors affecting populations: natality, mortality, immigration, and emigration. This theme is elaborated from the preface to the final chapter, sometimes at the expense of conciseness and engagement. The authors critique misleading and vague terminology and aim to clarify it, which is particularly valuable because terms such as habitat and ecosystem can be used differently across subdisciplines. They examine the evolution of the habitat concept and discuss, for example, heterogeneity, fragmentation, connectivity, and disturbance. A 6-page evolutionary perspective provides additional insights, making the first 4 chapters excellent reading material for students. Toward the end, the authors tackle the challenge of identifying spatiotemporal boundaries and focus on biological conservation through demography and adaptive management. Finally, they offer guidelines, though these may be difficult to implement. The book's vertebrate-centric approach is evident and its acknowledgment by the authors does not answer the question of the applicability of their recommendations to other taxa, where monitoring or even distinguishing biological populations can be challenging. Overall, this book offers a robust framework for future studies, although its relevance to nonvertebrate taxa remains uncertain.

The last of its kind: The search for the great auk and the discovery of extinction. Pálson, G. 2024. Princetown University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. xxvi+291pp. US$27.95 (hardcover). ISBN 978-0-691-23089-6.

Do not read this book expecting to learn about the life of the great auk (Pinguinus impennis). It is primarily the tale of a somewhat ineffectual expedition by 2 egg collectors, John Wolley and Alfred Newton, to Iceland in 1858 to study what may already have been an extinct species. These men were no heroes. They commissioned one local to visit a great auk colony and collect as many eggs as possible, plus skins and bodies. If any auks remained, they instructed that no more than half the survivors should be killed. Newton did eventually recognize the error of his ways, arguing for policy action to address the extinction of species. To be fair, the men were in Iceland just as Darwin and Wallace were proposing the concept of evolution. On his travels, Darwin had witnessed the remains of extinct species but believed that their extirpation resulted from of a natural decline in numbers and loss of habitat. Wolley and Newton came to realize that this was the first species whose extinction through human exploitation was being observed in real time, yet they focused more on gathering eggs than on evidence of extermination. There are occasional fascinating insights in the book. I did not know, for example, that one great auk nesting site was lost in a volcanic eruption in 1830. However, the author wanders off on too many weird tangents. He does a valuable job highlighting the contribution of these 2 men but adds little to the understanding of a remarkable bird.

A field guide to the larger mammals of South America. Webb, R., and J. Blincow. 2024. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. 488 pp. US$49.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-0-691-17409-9.

Field guides are our best allies when we need to recognize organisms in the field, but the work behind them is bigger than we think. Despite the high mammal species richness of South America, a complete identification guide to the larger mammals of this continent was lacking. Thanks to the numerous visits made by these 2 scientists to the continent and the greater availability of data, the writing of this guide was possible. The species covered are restricted to those “the size of a guinea pig or larger,” to quote the authors, because smaller ones are considered harder to identify in the field. A first brief introduction to the basics of mammal anatomy and the most characteristic geographical features of South America makes this guide accessible to the public, yet it is also useful for the expert. The taxonomy follows that of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the bulk of the guide is species descriptions (420 species, divided by family). For each species, a brief description of appearance is followed by data on habitat and distribution, body measurements, a distribution map, and a photograph or illustration of the animal. To keep the book compact, not much detail is offered in the description, but the high-quality pictures and detailed illustrations compensate for this, making it a good field guide and a splendid book of naturalistic value.