{"product_id":"the-living-elephants-evolutionary-ecology-behaviour-and-conservation-life-sciences-9780195107784","title":"The Living Elephants: Evolutionary Ecology  Behaviour  and Conservation (Life Sciences)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Living Elephants is the authoritative resource for information on both Asian and African elephants. From the ancient origins of the proboscideans to the present-day crisis of the living elephants  this volume synthesizes the behavior  ecology and conservation of elephants  while covering also the history of human interactions with elephants  all within the theoretical framework of evolutionary biology. The book begins with a survey of the 60-million year evolutionary history of the proboscideans emphasizing the role of climate and vegetation change in giving rise to a bewildering array of species  but also discussing the possible role of humans in the late Pleistocene extinction of mastodonts and mammoths. The latest information on the molecular genetics of African and Asian elephants and its taxonomic implications are then presented. The rise of the elephant culture in Asia  and its early demise in Africa are traced along with an original interpretation of this unique animal-human relationship. The book then moves on to the social life of elephants as it relates to reproductive strategies of males and females  development of behavior in young  communication  ranging patterns  and societal organization. The foraging strategies of elephants  their impact on the vegetation and landscape are then discussed. The dynamics of elephant populations in relation to hunting for ivory and their population viability are described with the aid of mathematical models. A detailed account of elephant-human interactions includes a treatment of crop depredation by elephants in relation to their natural ecology  manslaughter by elephants  habitat manipulation by humans  and a history of the ivory trade and poaching in the two continents. The ecological information is brought together in the final chapter to formulate a set of pragmatic recommendations for the long-term conservation of elephants. The broadest treatment of the subject yet undertaken  by one of the leading workers in the field  Raman Sukumar  the book promises to bring the understanding of elephants to a new level. It should be of interest not only to biologists but also a broader audience including field ecologists  wildlife administrators  historians  conservationists and all those interested in elephants and their future.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651581304885,"sku":"ByrdShop_0195107780","price":168.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780195107784.jpg?v=1781835994","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-living-elephants-evolutionary-ecology-behaviour-and-conservation-life-sciences-9780195107784","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}