The Ecology & Conservation of Asian Hornbills

by Kinnaird, Margaret F.; O'brien, Timothy G.; Laman, Tim; Kingdon, Jonathan; Kemp, Alan

• ISBN13: 9780226437125
• ISBN10: 0226437124
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-02-15
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

Hornbills are among the world's most distinct birds. Easily recognized by their oversized beaks adorned with large casques, they range from Africa to India and throughout Asia. One of the oldest bird orders, they have been known to mankind for millennia and loom large in the mythology of indigenous cultures of tropical Asia. In the past thirty years, ecologists have uncovered many fascinating aspects of hornbill biology, from their unique nest-sealing behavior to their roles as farmers of the forest. Building on fourteen years of research, Margaret F. Kinnaird and Timothy G. O'Brien offer inEcology and Conservation of Asian Hornbillsthe most up-to-date information on the evolution, reproduction, feeding ecology, and movement patterns of thirty-one species of Asian hornbills. The authors address questions of ecological functionality, ecosystem services, and keystone relationships, as well as the disturbing influence of forest loss and fragmentation on hornbills. Complemented by superb full-color images by renowned photographer Tim Laman that provide rare glimpses of hornbills in their native habitat and black-and-white illustrations by Jonathan Kingdon that highlight the intriguing aspects of hornbill behavior,Ecology and Conservation of Asian Hornbillswill stand tall in the pantheon of natural history studies for years to come.

Author Biography

Margaret F. Kinnaird is senior conservation ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Director of Mpala Research Centre, Kenya. Timothy G. O’Brien is senior conservation zoologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Preface	p. xiii
Why Hornbills?	p. 1
The Rise of Hornbills: Evolution, Taxonomy, and Morphology	p. 19
The Hornbill Realm: Forests, Fruits, and Fires	p. 51
Feeding Ecology: How to Survive on Fruits	p. 70
Reproduction: An Extraordinary Investment	p. 105
Social Systems: A Tribute to Monogamy	p. 128
Ecological Services: Farmers of the Forest	p. 155
Threats to Persistence: A Reality Check	p. 184
Outlook for the Future	p. 235
References	p. 261
Index	p. 291
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.