require assumptions and procedures that are not always accounted for. Conceptual limitations and methodological constraints are not often discussed in
the scientific literature, and currently there are no other books from which one
can learn a critical approach to use of the wide variety of methods and techniques in animal ecology.
The main purpose of this book, therefore, is to present some of the more
common issues and research techniques used in animal ecology, identify their
limitations and most common misuses, provide possible solutions, and address
the most interesting new perspectives on how best to analyze and interpret
data collected in a variety of research areas. It is not a handbook of techniques;
rather, it is designed as a backup for existing handbooks, providing a critical
perspective on the most common topics and techniques.
Such a critical review of methodologies is rare in animal ecology. Historically, a few individual papers have denounced misused techniques, and such
papers are still cited today. Others have had to be published several times
before the scientific community has taken notice. In recent years, individual
papers have been discussed in some journals via a comment and reply format,
and these “conversations” are among the most interesting parts of those publications. Several summarizing monographs or books have been published
recently that critically address or review major topics (e.g., radiotelemetry,
population estimation, survival analyses), but no single volume has presented
a whole range of topics relevant to animal ecology.
In the course of the last 20 years of teaching, research, and editing, we
have become increasingly convinced of the need for a book like this, with its
critical look at how ecological research is conducted and interpreted, and we
hope it will provide insight and reassurance for the research community.
Furthermore, we hope the book, by specifically investigating the many ways
in which research techniques are incorrectly applied, will contribute to increasing the consistency and reliability of the scientific method in ecology and
conservation.
The book includes the topics that are most frequently reported in the scientific literature in ecology and conservation, but rarely critically reviewed in a
comprehensive manner. We are aware that several other topics and extensive
treatment of taxa other than vertebrates could have been included if there had
been no limitations on size and readability. We prepared a priority scale of topics based on the relevance of the issue, the lack of good available critical review,
the availability of outstanding contributors, and the amount of controversy
and misuse found on each topic. The resulting choice is obviously subjective
and can be criticized, as every scientist has his or her preferences and perspecP R E FA C E
xxvii
the scientific literature, and currently there are no other books from which one
can learn a critical approach to use of the wide variety of methods and techniques in animal ecology.
The main purpose of this book, therefore, is to present some of the more
common issues and research techniques used in animal ecology, identify their
limitations and most common misuses, provide possible solutions, and address
the most interesting new perspectives on how best to analyze and interpret
data collected in a variety of research areas. It is not a handbook of techniques;
rather, it is designed as a backup for existing handbooks, providing a critical
perspective on the most common topics and techniques.
Such a critical review of methodologies is rare in animal ecology. Historically, a few individual papers have denounced misused techniques, and such
papers are still cited today. Others have had to be published several times
before the scientific community has taken notice. In recent years, individual
papers have been discussed in some journals via a comment and reply format,
and these “conversations” are among the most interesting parts of those publications. Several summarizing monographs or books have been published
recently that critically address or review major topics (e.g., radiotelemetry,
population estimation, survival analyses), but no single volume has presented
a whole range of topics relevant to animal ecology.
In the course of the last 20 years of teaching, research, and editing, we
have become increasingly convinced of the need for a book like this, with its
critical look at how ecological research is conducted and interpreted, and we
hope it will provide insight and reassurance for the research community.
Furthermore, we hope the book, by specifically investigating the many ways
in which research techniques are incorrectly applied, will contribute to increasing the consistency and reliability of the scientific method in ecology and
conservation.
The book includes the topics that are most frequently reported in the scientific literature in ecology and conservation, but rarely critically reviewed in a
comprehensive manner. We are aware that several other topics and extensive
treatment of taxa other than vertebrates could have been included if there had
been no limitations on size and readability. We prepared a priority scale of topics based on the relevance of the issue, the lack of good available critical review,
the availability of outstanding contributors, and the amount of controversy
and misuse found on each topic. The resulting choice is obviously subjective
and can be criticized, as every scientist has his or her preferences and perspecP R E FA C E
xxvii