Review Of "Bird Migration And Global Change" By G. W. Cox

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

2-1-2011

Published In

Choice

Abstract

Birds are exquisitely sensitive to alterations in habitat, and there is no question that they, especially migrant species, will be affected by a global change in climate. Cox (emer., San Diego State), attempts to assess what groups will be most affected and how. He starts with a summary of evidence for climate change and then overviews avian responses to local climate variations. The author reviews each of the major avian migratory groups (land birds, sea birds, raptors, shorebirds, long- and short-distance migrants) with an eye toward their likely response to climate change. Each group is then assessed for its ability to adapt to rapid changes as opposed to change on an evolutionary time scale. Next, Cox combines all these data to give his estimate of the conservation outlook for each group of migratory birds. To condense so many major topics into less than 300 pages is no small feat, and Cox has produced a readable, nontechnical introduction to the topic, if not the definitive study. Each chapter includes ten or so key references. The volume contains graphs and data tables but no illustrations; there is no bibliography, but a useful index. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.

Comments

This work is freely available courtesy of Choice Reviews. The review has been reproduced in full in the abstract field.

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