Eastern Deciduous Forest: Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
By Richard
H. Yahner. 1995. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 220 p. $18.95.
Reviewed by Laurie Wunder, Wildlife Biologist, USDA Forest Service, Olympic National Forest,
Olympia, WA
98502; and Robert 0. Curtis, Research Forester, Pacific Northwest Research
Station, Olympia, WA
98512.
•
About This File:
This file was created by scanning the printed publication.
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for readers with limited biological
background, a brief description of the eastern deciduous
forest and of the relationships between wildlife and that
forest. The general content is indicated by the chapter
headings: (1) The Forest and its Wildlife, (2) Early History
of the Forest, (3) Ecological Processes, (4) Forest Plant
and Animal Interactions, (5) Forest Succession and Man­
agement, (6) Forest Fragmenmtion, (7) Corridors and
Edges in Relation to Fragmented Forests, (8) Biodiversity
and Conservation, (9) Atmospheric Environmental Con­
cerns, and (10) Forests of the F uture: Challenges and
Opportunities.
The preface states that the objective of the book is to
provide "a general introduction to ecology and wildlife
THIS BOOK PRESENTS,
conservation" of the eastern deciduous forest and to "gain
a better appreciation of ...issues ...confronting resource
managers." The intended audience is "high school stu­
dents and teachers ... beginning college students or laypersons."
.
The author provides a broadly based, generally well­
balanced viewpoint, drawing on a wide range of .informa­
tion from the fields of wildlife management, ecology,
forestry, and conservation biology. Unavoidably, the at­
tempt to cover such a broad range of topics in a few pages
results in superficial treatment of many. Resource profes­
sionals will find many instances of oversimplification.
There is little or no discussion of such ecological concepts
as "niche" and "food chain." There is little discussion of
Forest Science 42(3) 1996
393
..
the wide differences that exist within the "eastern decidu­
ous forest" as this is shown on the author's map (page 5).
Much of the material is so general that it could apply to any
forest ecosystem.
There is an extended discussion of forest fragmentation
as an issue, including references to other regions with little
relevance to eastern hardwoods. The distinction is not
clearly drawn between fragmentation due to interspersed
nonforest land uses versus differences in age classes within
the forest. The latter also existed in the presettlement
fores . though over a greater range in ages and perhaps on
somewhat different spatial scales.
Following a statement about predicted very high ex­
tinction rates in the near future, the rather peculiar state­
ment (page 128, source not specified) ) is made that
"Historically, about one species of bird or mammal was
lost per 100 years between 10,000 B.P. and 1975." The
true figure is unknowable, but that given seems unreason­
ably low on the basis of recorded history.
There is an extended discussion of atmospheric envi­
ronmental concerns, including the usual dire warnings
about future impacts of acid rain, greenhouse warming,
and the ozone hole. These are indeed concerns that stu­
dents should be aware of, but they are not certainty. Not
mentioned is the fact that alternative plausible explana­
tions have been advanced for spruce decline in the North­
east; and that other declines have occurred in the past,
often from unknown causes (e.g., birch dieback in the
1930s and early 1940s).
Forestry terms are used loosely and sometimes incor­
rectly. Some instances are trivial in view of the intended
audience, but others are not. Thus, the author (p. 72-73)
devotes two pages to discussion of "selective cutting"
when he actually means the "selection system. " He appar­
ently does not realize that these are two different things,
and thereby perpetuates widespread confusion between
the two."Silviculture" is defined as "the planting, grow­
ing and tending of a stand of trees.. .. " Yet, planting is
only occasionally used in eastern hardwood silviculture.
There is little or no mention of the role of economic forces
in determining land management practices, nor of the diffi­
culties of implementing any overall policies and manage­
ment practices in a region where most of the land is held in a
great number of small ownerships. Obviously these factors
cannot be discussed at length, but a student should at least be
aware that they exist.
Overall, the book certainly meets the modest goals stated
'by the author. It provides a broad and readable overview of
eastern forest and w Jdlife issues, suitable for high school
students and general audiences. It could serve as supplemen­
tal reading in a general biology or resource issues college
course for nonmajors. College science or resource manage­
ment majors would be better served by a text such as Hunter
(Wildlife, Forests.and Forestry. Prentice-Hall. 1990).
394
Forest Science 42(3) 1996