Carnivores of Australia: Past, Present and Future

Description

The Australian continent provides a unique perspective on the evolution and ecology of carnivorous animals. Since European settlement, Australia has seen the extinction of one large marsupial predator (the thylacine), another (the Tasmanian devil) is in danger of imminent extinction, and still others have suffered dramatic declines. By contrast, two recently-introduced predators, the fox and cat, have been spectacularly successful, with devastating impacts on the Australian fauna. Carnivores of Australia: Past, Present and Future explores Australia's unique predator communities from prehistoric, historic and current perspectives. It covers mammalian, reptilian and avian carnivores, both native and introduced to Australia. It also examines the debate surrounding how best to manage predators to protect livestock and native biodiversity.

Dr Alistair S. Glen has been researching carnivores for 15 years, has advised various Australian and international governments on management and conservation of carnivores, and received numerous awards including the Invasive Animals CRC Chairman's Award for Scientific Excellence in 2007. Professor Christopher R. Dickman has produced over 300 publications, and has won numerous awards for his research, including the New South Wales Scientist of the Year in the Plant and Animal Sciences category in 2010.

[...] an important resource for those interested in Australian ecology and management. Above all, there is much in the book that reminds us of the unique and precarious nature of Australia's biodiversity". - British Ecological Society Bulletin, December 2015