Books in the Pelagic Monographs series

The UK is undergoing a mass extinction of birds and wildlife after two centuries of intensification. Many books lament the decline of British wildlife - this is the first to map out how this could be turned around, economically and in the national interest. We have all the space we need for nature; now, at last, it's time to put it to good use.

Game fishes, particularly those of the salmon family, are critical indicators of the health of those ecosystems upon which we now know we are dependent. As the authors of this important environmental book argue, "e;Our game fishes [then] serve as more than merely an indicator of healthy waters. Instead, they can be regarded as iconic of the ecosystems in which they occur."e; Moreover, "e;the quality requirements of different types of fish population have formed the backbone of a great deal of water management in the UK, Europe and the USA over several decades."e;With sections on how and why Britain's game fishes are under pressure from changes in land use, agriculture, housing needs, etc. - and their concomitant pollution effects - this book assesses how our knowledge of these game fishes reflect the changing values we place on our surrounding wildlife.

Muntjac and water deer were introduced to Britain from East Asia. This book provides a comprehensive overview of their natural history and the management of their environmental impacts.In lowland England, muntjac deer are one of the drivers of changes in woodland structure and species composition, and many of the principles relating to such woodland impact are also applicable to the activities of other species of deer. Interest in environmental impacts of deer is not solely restricted to woodlands. The highest densities of water deer occur in wetlands, where there is potential for conflict, and considerable numbers are also found on agricultural land. Muntjac have also settled in suburbia and frequently cause impacts there. Conservationists and national decision makers are concerned both about invasive alien species and about increasing deer populations.The first section covers the natural history of both species including: breeding biology, deer in the field, colonisation of Britain, a detailed look at colonisation in a single county, methods for studying deer populations and a review of deer population numbers. The second section covers environmental impact: risk assessment, impact management, control of muntjac, effect of muntjac browsing and grazing, habitat recovery from muntjac impacts and a study on the impacts of water deer. The section concludes with an overview of management and monitoring.The costs and benefits of both species are discussed, and questions asked about whether we are getting on top of problems caused by muntjac (locally and nationally) and will water deer turn out to be similar to muntjac? Attitudes and approaches to these species are changing: with water deer we are actively studying whether it might be an environmental problem, not waiting until after it has obviously become one. What will happen to distribution, numbers, impacts and attitudes in the future? Will water deer ever become a suburban animal? What does the future hold for water deer in China and Korea - and how important is the English population as a global conservation resource?

A beautifully illustrated natural history of the Red Kite, including the successful reintroduction programme. Follow the birds through the ups and downs of the year, from the rigours of raising young during the warm summer months to the struggle for survival in the depths of winter.

When and where did the ancestors of modern birds evolve? How did these early birds spread across the globe and give rise to the 10,600-plus species we recognise today? Based on the latest scientific discoveries, The Ascent of Birds sets out to answer these fundamental questions.

The pollination of flowers by insects, birds and other animals is a crucial interaction that supports both the natural world and human society. Written by one of the world's leading pollination ecologists, this book offers a unique insight into the ecology and evolution of pollinators, and why they need conserving in a rapidly changing world.

A fascinating insight into the badger's world. Badger biology, life in the sett, rescue & rehabilitation, consultancy, badgers & farming, and badger-watching with George Pearce - an expert on badgers.George has surveyed over 700 sites, visited 1,500 setts, been consulted as an expert in 120 animal cruelty cases and rehabilitated more than 100 badgers. Brought up on a farm, he earned his living as a farmer for 45 years. Today, he is a badger consultant and one of the foremost experts on the British mammal he admires the most.For many years, the RSPCA, police, veterinary surgeons and conservation groups all over the country have relied on George Pearce's knowledge and his instinctive feel for animal behaviour. Now you can share in his experience and enthusiasm for badgers from his 70 years of badger watching and his vast professional wildlife experience.