Biorenewable resources: engineering new products from agriculture (2nd ed.)

Abstract

approval, from understanding relevant legislation and policy at the Commonwealth and state levels, to experimental design and research competencies. Indeed, the book has a significant focus on AECs, their role, membership, reviewing applications and ongoing management of approved projects. The book is unique in this respect, being a practical guide for new AEC members and also as a necessary resource for those new practitioners embarking on a career in wildlife research. The second section contains a collection of articles that provides a comprehensive review of available animal research methods, from wildlife tagging and tracking to remote survey. Notable chapters in this section include: Emerging and evolving dilemmas in wildlife research; citizen science and education; and veterinary procedures suitable for use on Australian wildlife. The third section provides best practice survey and research methods for all terrestrial vertebrates, marine and freshwater fishes as well as cephalopods, crustaceans, sharks, rays and chimaeras, including feral and exotic species. Profiles are provided for each species clade as it relates to physical characteristics, biology and behaviour, capture and handling, veterinary considerations and general operating procedures (techniques that minimise negative animal welfare impacts). The book has an emphasis on practical application of methods, which provides the necessary justification for employing certain survey and capture techniques over others in the field. For those who have had to respond to questions from AECs about preferencing one survey method over others, this justification is priceless. For example, one section identifies that the only practical method to capture Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is to search for individuals from a slow-moving vehicle during the day and when one is sighted, proceed on foot until it shelters within a hollow log from which it can then be extracted using cages and/or hose and net (p. 396). Advice such as this will prove invaluable to those designing a suitable survey program or conducting research on such cryptic and trap-shy species. The book is an invaluable addition to any budding researcher or consultant who is embarking on a career in wildlife research and for those seasoned practitioners who wish to refresh their in-house fauna survey guidelines and to inform their ethics applications with the most up to date and best practice methods. It is not a book that will sit on a shelf gathering dust, rather it will be lying open where it can be easily and readily consulted as needed.