Review by Choice Review
Throughout Pennsylvania and adjacent states, housing developments, urban and suburban growth, and rapid expansion of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale deposits underlying the region will continue to eliminate or highly fragment existing habitat and the wildlife they support. This book focuses on 134 species of threatened terrestrial vertebrates. Among them are 17 of immediate concern. The initial chapters provide an overview of conservation biology, habitat types and their importance and threats, and a Pennsylvania action plan for conservation. Following are species accounts grouped in three sections: amphibians and reptiles, birds, and mammals. Species in each group are arranged in categories of concern: immediate, high level, responsibility, "Pennsylvania vulnerable," and maintenance. This important and much needed book written by experienced biologists provides detailed accounts for each species, covering geographic range, distribution and relative abundance, habitat, life history and ecology, threats, conservation and management, and monitoring and research needs. A concluding chapter deals with new and emerging threats. Although focused on Pennsylvania, this book has a broad regional approach to the conservation of these species that deserves wide distribution among conservation and wildlife biologists, natural resource agencies, and the general public. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of academic, professional, and general readers. R. L. Smith emeritus, West Virginia University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
