European Bison: The Nature Monograph

ISBN-13: 9783642429071 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 380 str.

Ma Gorzata Krasi Ska; Zbigniew A. Krasi Ski

Opis

The mighty and majestic European bison is the relictual embodiment of the wildness of prehistoric Europe. Tragically, the millennia since that time have seen so many species driven to extinction by human impacts, and the European bison has only narrowly avoided the same fate. Today, the species represents the symbolic sentinel of successful conservation actions in a world in which such achievements remain few and far between.From an early stage in the restitution of the European bison, husband-and-wife team Małgorzata Krasińska and Zbigniew A. Krasiński have been participating in relevant management initiatives and researching all facets of the bison, from its morphology and diet, to its movements, social life and reproduction, and the conservation management actions that have been taken to save it. Now they have summarised this wealth of knowledge on the species, giving rise to a publication ideal for students, professional biologists and conservationists, but also for all nature enthusiasts.This new edition of the monograph offers extensively updated content taking into account research carried out on the European bison in the last few years. Also featured, a new chapter devoted to knowledge of the genetics of the species drawn up by Małgorzata Tokarska of the Białowieża-based Mammal Research Institute PAS.

Spis treści

Foreword.- Acknowledgements.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Systematics, registration and nomenclature.- 3. Morphology and longevity.- 4. Genetics.- 5. The original range of the species Bison bonasus (L.).- 6. The European bison and the aurochs on Polish territory.- 7. The natural population of Lowland European bison in the Białowieża  Forest.- 8. The  restitution of the European bison in enclosures within the Białowieża Forest.- 9. European bison in the Białowieża Forest –  a characterisation of the environment.- 10. The restitution of a free-ranging  bison population in the Białowieża Forest.- 11. The rhythm to bison activity.- 12. Reproduction.- 13. Behaviour patterns.- 14. Food and use of the environment.- 15. Social organisation of the population.- 16. The spatial structure of populations.- 17. Population management.- 18. The significance of the Białowieża bison for the preservation and recognition of the species Bison bonasus.- 19. Threats to the species Bison bonasus.- 20. Bison as protected animals.- 21. Cooperation over the restitution of the European bison in the Białowieża Forest.- 22. The restitution of bison in captive breeding  in Poland.- 23. Restitution of free-ranging populations around the world.- 24. Hybrids between the European bison and domestic cattle.- 25. American bison a close relative of European bison.