&i;Wildlife Spectacles&o; is the fourth publication by Conservation International and Agrupacion Sierra Madre, following &i;Hotspots, Megadiversity&o; and &i;Wilderness.&o;In this new book, the authors look at conservation in a somewhat different way than in earlier books, highlighting large congregations of animals, events that have become known as "Wildlife Spectacles". The book includes a detailed introduction and 36 chapters highlighting those species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates that form some of the most amazing spectacles.
Although some congregatory species have very limited ranges and occur in only very small areas such that they are picked up through other priority-setting activities, others are widespread and normally non-threatened "common" species that might be ignored by conservation strategies. Nonetheless, they may face significant extinction threats during times when a large proportion of their population congregates in a few sites. Conservation of congregatory species first requires cataloguing these species, and then identifying those sites at which their congregations occur. Aside from trying to initiate this analysis, this book seeks to stimulate further research into threats to congregatory species and ways in which we can ensure their long-term persistence.
Russell A. Mittermeier is president of Conservation International. Patricio Robles Gil is founder and president of Agrupacion Sierra Madre and Unidos para la Conservacion. Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier is a marine biologist and professional photographer at Conservation International. Thomas Brooks is head of the Conservation Synthesis Department, and Michael Hoffman is a biologist at the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science at Conservation International. William R. Konstant is a biologist, Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca is executive vice president for Programs and Science, and Roderic B. Mast is vice president of Conservation International, as well as cochair of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group.