xxviii
P R E FA C E
tives. However, we are confident that the book will address new topics of interest to a large proportion of researchers in animal ecology.
Each chapter explores and develops a different topic and includes an extensive review of published material and a summary of the state of knowledge on
that particular topic. Techniques are usually described only briefly because the
intent is to point out the underlying assumptions and constraints of the techniques and indicate ways to avoid the most common pitfalls that await us.
In the first chapter Charles Krebs presents the philosophical groundwork
concerning hypotheses. He then discusses how this concept is translated in scientific studies into testable hypotheses, and then into statistical hypotheses
and all of the attending problems that the simple idea of null hypotheses raises.
He then explores the practical problems of hypothesis testing in ecology.
Despite the fact that most ecologists and students in ecology think that good
hypothesis development is self-evident to any rational person, Krebs makes a
convincing case that the intellectual baggage of assumptions we all carry ought
to be questioned seriously.
Marking individual animals is often a prerequisite of many research designs
in animal ecology. Although most ecologists are aware that some markers may
affect an animal’s life history, this topic is rarely addressed in presenting
research results. In chapter 2, Dennis L. Murray and Mark R. Fuller review the
effects of markers on various aspects of life history, particularly on movements
and energetics, and on survival and population estimation. They provide useful information on methodological or analytical modifications used to minimize the effects of markers and suggest lines of research to more fully evaluate
the effects of markers on various vertebrate taxa.
The concept of home range is central to much of the animal distribution
and abundance literature, and home range descriptors have received much
critical attention. Nevertheless, assumptions and caveats often are ignored,
especially when the most modern techniques are used. Whereas the methodological literature appears to cover extensively all critical aspects of this topic,
the literature concerning the use of these methods does not reflect the same
level of attention. Roger A. Powell, in chapter 3, analyzes old and recent pitfalls of home range and territory concepts and methods, and suggests the most
reliable approaches for each research theme.
The evaluation of habitat use by an animal either for use, preference, and
selection studies or for suitability analyses is also a theme that is found easily in
any current issue of the most important journals in animal ecology. However,
the topic is full of delusions, as explained by David L. Garshelis in chapter 4.
There are problems in defining and measuring habitats, measuring what is
P R E FA C E
tives. However, we are confident that the book will address new topics of interest to a large proportion of researchers in animal ecology.
Each chapter explores and develops a different topic and includes an extensive review of published material and a summary of the state of knowledge on
that particular topic. Techniques are usually described only briefly because the
intent is to point out the underlying assumptions and constraints of the techniques and indicate ways to avoid the most common pitfalls that await us.
In the first chapter Charles Krebs presents the philosophical groundwork
concerning hypotheses. He then discusses how this concept is translated in scientific studies into testable hypotheses, and then into statistical hypotheses
and all of the attending problems that the simple idea of null hypotheses raises.
He then explores the practical problems of hypothesis testing in ecology.
Despite the fact that most ecologists and students in ecology think that good
hypothesis development is self-evident to any rational person, Krebs makes a
convincing case that the intellectual baggage of assumptions we all carry ought
to be questioned seriously.
Marking individual animals is often a prerequisite of many research designs
in animal ecology. Although most ecologists are aware that some markers may
affect an animal’s life history, this topic is rarely addressed in presenting
research results. In chapter 2, Dennis L. Murray and Mark R. Fuller review the
effects of markers on various aspects of life history, particularly on movements
and energetics, and on survival and population estimation. They provide useful information on methodological or analytical modifications used to minimize the effects of markers and suggest lines of research to more fully evaluate
the effects of markers on various vertebrate taxa.
The concept of home range is central to much of the animal distribution
and abundance literature, and home range descriptors have received much
critical attention. Nevertheless, assumptions and caveats often are ignored,
especially when the most modern techniques are used. Whereas the methodological literature appears to cover extensively all critical aspects of this topic,
the literature concerning the use of these methods does not reflect the same
level of attention. Roger A. Powell, in chapter 3, analyzes old and recent pitfalls of home range and territory concepts and methods, and suggests the most
reliable approaches for each research theme.
The evaluation of habitat use by an animal either for use, preference, and
selection studies or for suitability analyses is also a theme that is found easily in
any current issue of the most important journals in animal ecology. However,
the topic is full of delusions, as explained by David L. Garshelis in chapter 4.
There are problems in defining and measuring habitats, measuring what is