Some ecosystem management plans established by state and federal agencies have begun to shift their focus away from single-species conservation to a broader goal of protecting a wide range of flora and fauna, including species whose numbers are scarce or about which there is little scientific understanding. To date, these efforts have proved extremely costly and complex to implement. Are there alternative approaches to protecting rare or little-known species that can be more effective and less burdensome than current efforts? "Conservation of Rare or Little-Known Species" represents the first comprehensive scientific evaluation of approaches and management options for protecting rare or little-known terrestrial species. The book brings together leading ecologists, biologists, botanists, economists, and sociologists to classify approaches, summarize their theoretical and conceptual foundations, evaluate their efficacy, and review how each has been used. Contributors consider combinations of species and systems approaches for overall effectiveness in meeting conservation and ecosystem sustainability goals. They discuss the biological, legal, sociological, political, administrative, and economic dimensions by which conservation strategies can be gauged, in an effort to help managers determine which strategy or combination of strategies is most likely to meet their needs. Contributors also discuss practical considerations of implementing various strategies. "Conservation of Rare or Little-Known Species" gives land managers access to a diverse literature and provides them with the basic information they need to select approaches that best suit their conservation objectives and ecological context. It is an important new work for anyone involved with developing land management or conservation plans.

Mammals in the genus Martes are mid-sized carnivores of great importance to forest ecosystems. This book, the successor to Martens, Sables, and Fishers: Biology and Conservation, provides a scientific basis for management and conservation efforts designed to maintain or enhance the populations and habitats of Martes species throughout the world. The twenty synthesis chapters contained in this book bring together the perspectives and expertise of 63 scientists from twelve countries, and are organized by the five key themes of evolution and biogeography, population biology and management, habitat ecology and management, research techniques, and conservation.

Recent developments in research technologies such as modeling and genetics, biological knowledge about pathogens and parasites, and concerns about the potential effects of global warming on the distribution and status of Martes populations make new syntheses of these areas especially timely. The volume provides an overview of what is known while clarifying initiatives for future research and conservation priorities, and will be of interest to mammalogists, resource managers, applied ecologists, and conservation biologists.

Contributors: Alexei V. Abramov, Russian Academy of Sciences; Jon M. Arnemo, Hedmark University College, Norway; James A. Baldwin, USDA Forest Service; Jeff Bowman, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Scott M. Brainerd, Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Richard N. Brown, Humboldt State University; Steven W. Buskirk, University of Wyoming; Carlos Carroll, Klamath Center for Conservation Research; Joseph A. Cook, University of New Mexico; Samuel A. Cushman, USDA Forest Service; Natalie G. Dawson, University of Montana; John Fryxell, University of Guelph; Mourad W. Gabriel, Integral Ecology Research Center; Jonathan H. Gilbert, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission; Evan H. Girvetz, Nature Conservancy; Rebecca A. Green, USDA Forest Service; Daniel J. Harrison, University of Maine; J. Mark Higley, Hoopa Tribal Forestry; Eric P. Hoberg, USDA Agricultural Research Service; Susan S. Hughes, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Neil R. Jordan, Vincent Wildlife Trust; Anson V. A. Koehler, University of Otago; William B. Krohn, University of Maine; Joshua J. Lawler, University of Washington; Jeffrey C. Lewis, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Eric C. Lofroth, British Columbia Ministry of Environment; Robert A. Long, Montana State University; Paula MacKay, Montana State University; Bruce G. Marcot, USDA Forest Service; Ryuichi Masuda, Hokkaido University; Marina Mergey, Universite de Reims Champagne-Ardenne; Vladimir Monakhov, Russian Academy of Sciences; Takahiro Murakami, Shiretoko Museum; Anne-Mari Mustonen, University of Eastern Finland; Petteri Nieminen, University of Eastern Finland; Cino Pertoldi, Aarhus University; Roger A. Powell, North Carolina State University; Gilbert Proulx, Alpha Wildlife Research & Management Ltd.; Kathryn L. Purcell, USDA Forest Service; Catherine M. Raley, USDA Forest Service; Martin G. Raphael, USDA Forest Service; Luis M. Rosalino, Universidade de Lisboa; Aritz Ruiz-Gonzalez, Universidad del Pais Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea; Hugh D. Safford, USDA Forest Service; Margarida Santos-Reis, Universidade de Lisboa; Joel Sauder, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game;Michael K. Schwartz, USDA Forest Service; Andrew J. Shirk, University of Washington; Keith M. Slauson, USDA Forest Service; Brian G. Slough, Yukon Territory; Wayne D. Spencer, Conservation Biology Institute; Richard A. Sweitzer, University of California, Berkeley; Craig M. Thompson, USDA Forest Service; Ian D. Thompson, Canadian Forest Service; Richard L. Truex, USDA Forest Service; Emilio Virgos, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; Tzeidle N. Wasserman, Northern Arizona University; Greta M. Wengert, Integral Ecology Research Center; J. Scott Yaeger, USDI U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Andrzej Zalewski, Polish Academy of Sciences; William J. Zielinski, USDA Forest Service; Patrick A. Zollner, Purdue University"