The world of wolves : new perspectives on ecology, behaviour, and management /

Although the book's title implies that the scope is broad, it focuses on the ecology of wolves; no chapter centers on sociocultural or economic research related to wolves. For instance, chapter contributors present the results of their depredation models on livestock and acknowledge the relevance to ranchers, but they do not present new data on the effects of wolves on ranchers, or vice versa. These comments are not meant to detract from the book but to delineate its scope. Contributors synthesize results of long-term research (decades in some cases) and conclude that wolf ecology is too complex to generalize in the short term. Generally, the book does not integrate across studies; ecologist(s) write about their own research in each chapter. The text contains minor editorial errors (e.g., "gray" and "grey"), and the figures lack graphical clarity (e.g., five shades of gray in one figure). Wolves, edited by L. D. Mech and L. Boitani (CH, May'04, 41-5308), concentrates on the biology of wolves, while this work focuses on wolf ecology as it relates to humans in the US, Canada, Scandinavia, and eastern Europe. Summing Up: Recommended. Academic libraries serving upper-division undergraduates through professionals. J. M. Favreau Paul Smith's College

This edited volume consists of nine scholarly papers that report current research findings on wolves contributed by a pack of top researchers in the field from North America and Europe. This research is an excellent demonstration of the principle that the more we know, the more we realize there is still more to know. For example, the DNA studies of wolves described here have contributed enormously to our ability to track their population dynamics but have also questioned the distinctions we make among wolf species, let alone among wolves, coyotes, and dogs. Another example is that the 50-year ecological study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale has required a complete revision of its explanatory model every five years as a result of continuing observations. Musiani (Univ. of Calgary), Luigi Boitani (Univ. of Rome), and Paul C. Paquet (Univ. of Calgary) do not shy away from this complexity and clearly explain the analytical and statistical tools used to illuminate the lives of wolves. VERDICT While public libraries might find nothing to howl about, this is a valuable morsel for students and scientists in academic and research libraries to sink their teeth into.-Walter L. Cressler, West Chester Univ. Lib., PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.