American and Australasian Marsupials: An Evolutionary, Biogeographical, and Ecological Approach

ISBN-13: 9783031084188 / Angielski / Twarda / 2023 / 985 str.

Nilton C. Caceres;Christopher R. Dickman

Opis

This book focuses on marsupials, a group of mammals that usually carry their young in a pouch, such as Australian kangaroos. Much of the current knowledge on marsupials is based on the Australasian marsupial fauna, but marsupials are also common in the Americas, particularly South America. There are roughly 130 species of New World marsupials, of which the opossum is the best known. Thanks to recent research, there is now an increasing amount of data on their evolution, biogeography, systematics, ecology, and conservation in the Americas. Based on this information and the authors' extensive research, this book provides comprehensive insights into New World marsupials. It will appeal to academics and specialized researchers, students of zoology, paleontology, evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation, as well as interested non-experts.

Spis treści

American and Australasian Marsupials: An Introduction Diversity and Phylogeny of Marsupials and Their Stem Relatives (Metatheria) Taxonomy and Diversity of Living American Marsupials Taxonomic Checklist of Living American Marsupials Taxonomy and Diversity of Living Australasian Marsupials Cenozoic Metatherian Evolution in the Americas Paleogene Metatherians from the Itaboraí Basin: Diversity and Affinities Molecular Evolution in Australasian Marsupials Postweaning Skull Growth in Living American and Australasian Marsupials: Allometry and Evolution Function and Constraint in the Marsupial Postcranium Skull Morphological Evolution in Faunivorous Marsupials Marsupial Functional Morphology, Biomechanics, and Feeding Ecology Morphology, Form, and Function in Didelphid Marsupials Hair Microstructure Diversity in Neotropical Marsupials: Roles of Phylogenetic Signal and Adaptation Short-Tailed Opossums Genus Monodelphis: Patterns of Phenotypic Evolution and Diversification Patterns of Phenotypic Evolution and Diversification in Antechinus Trait Variation in American Marsupials Based on Biological Rules Age-Area Relationships in American Marsupials: A Macroevolutionary Approach Species Richness and Beta Diversity Patterns of American Marsupials Diversification of South American Didelphid Marsupials Marsupials in the Guiana Region (Northeastern Amazonia): Diversity and Endemism Marsupials from the South American “Dry Diagonal”: Diversity, Endemism, and Biogeographic History Species Richness and Endemism of Marsupials in the Atlantic Forest: Spatial Patterns and Drivers Diversity and Endemism of the Marsupials of Australia’s Top End and Kimberley Diversity and Endemism of the Marsupials of Australia’s North-Eastern Tropics Diversity and Endemism of the Marsupials of Australia’s Arid Zone Marsupials of Australia’s Temperate and Subtropical Forests, Woodlands and Heathlands Population Dynamics of Neotropical Marsupials Semelparous Reproductive Strategy in New World Marsupials Reproductive Strategies and Biology of the Australasian Marsupials Positional Behavior and Locomotor Performance of American Marsupials: Links with Habitat and Substrate Use Movement, Habitat Selection, and Home Range of American Marsupials Movement Patterns, Home Range and Habitat Selection of Australasian Marsupials Food Habits of American Marsupials Marsupials in a Neotropical Savanna: Diet Variation and Seasonal Patterns Food Habits and Activity Patterns of Australasian Marsupials Activity Patterns of American Marsupials Daily Torpor, Hibernation, and Heterothermy in Marsupials Energy and Water Balance of Marsupials Conservation Biogeography of Living American Marsupials: Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata Conservation Biogeography of Modern Species of Australasian Marsupials Impact of Habitat Loss and Fragmentation in Assemblages, Populations, and Individuals of American marsupials Impact of Habitat Loss and Fragmentation in Didelphid Marsupials of the Atlantic Forest Impact of Habitat Loss and Fragmentation on Assemblages, Populations, and Individuals of Australasian Marsupials Marsupials and the Coverage Provided by Protected Areas in Brazil Human-Wildlife Interactions in Urban Areas: Case of Didelphis aurita Marsupials in Urban Environments Relict Marsupial (Dromiciops) from Southern South American Temperate Rainforests: Threatened by Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Transformation Multiple Threats Affecting the Marsupials of Australasia: Impacts and Management Novel Conservation Strategies to Conserve Australian Marsupials

O autorze

Nilton Cáceres work focuses mostly on the ecology and evolution of mammals, particularly marsupials, rodents, carnivores, and primates. Nilton is a Professor in Vertebrate Zoology and Animal Behaviour at the Federal University of Santa Maria and a Research Fellow of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). He has written more than 150 journal articles and book chapters, as well as been editor and co-editor of Marsupials of Brazil (2006 and 2012) and The Mammals of Rio Grande do Sul (2013). His research has had international collaborations with, among others, Argentinean, Spanish, Italian, and English researchers, focusing mainly on the Neotropical fauna.

Christopher R. Dickman’s work focuses mostly on the ecology of mammals and on a range of projects in applied conservation and management. Chris is a Professor in Ecology (personal chair) at The University of Sydney and a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. He has written more than 500 journal articles and book chapters, as well as several monographs on marsupials including the award-winning A Fragile Balance: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Marsupials and Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials (with Andrew Baker); he is also co-editor of Marsupials and Predators with Pouches: The Biology of Carnivorous Marsupials. He is the recipient of several national and international awards, including the Troughton Medal from the Australian Mammal Society and the C. Hart Merriam award from the American Society of Mammalogists.

Blurb

This book focuses on the ecology, evolution, biogeography, systematics and taxonomy of New World and Australasian marsupials, greatly expanding the current knowledge base. There are roughly 140 species of New World marsupials, of which the opossum is the best known. Thanks to recent research, there is now an increasing amount of understanding about their evolution, biogeography, systematics, ecology, and conservation in the Americas, especially in South America. There are also some 270 marsupial species in the Australasian region, many of which have been subject to research only in recent years. Based on this information and the authors’ extensive research, this book provides comprehensive insights into the world's marsupials. It will appeal to academics and specialized researchers, students of zoology, paleontology, evolutionary biology, ecology, physiology and conservation, as well as interested non-experts.