“This book is a valuable compilation of essays on a key topic of increasing importance in conservation biology. The contributors include some of the best quantitative thinkers in biology, and the book chapters are well written, thoughtfully organized, and very informative. The integration of theory and application is a strong point of the book. An essential addition to the libraries of scientists and practitioners in wildlife biology.” -Byron K. Williams, chief, USGS Cooperative Research Units

“This well-written and thorough coverage of sampling approaches for rare or elusive species establishes a new standard for conservation scientists. Careful attention to the principles in this book will enable biologist to design rigorous studies for estimating population parameters for this difficult group of organisms. Unlike ad hoc approaches still commonly in use, the methods espoused in this book will produce results that are scientifically credible and repeatable, enabling valid comparisons over space and time. Sampling Rare or Elusive Species is a major advance for conservation biology, and needs to be consulted by anyone contemplating field studies of rare or elusive organisms.” -Michael J. Conroy, assistant unit leader, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, an adjunct professor, University of Georgia

"Many methods for surveying wildlife populations have been developed in recent decades, but rare and elusive species test these methods to the limit. Attention is focused on such species more than ever before for various reasons, including the anticipated effects of climate change, and the international commitment to reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010. Ingenuity, sound methodology, and technology are essential ingredients for expanding the range of populations that can be reliably surveyed. All these ingredients are in plentiful supply in this book, which will give inspiration to conservation biologists faced with the need to survey problematic species.” -Stephen T. Buckland, professor of statistics, CREEM, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, St. Andrews, Scotland

The Editor

WILLIAM L. THOMPSON is an ecologist/biometrician with the National Park Service in Anchorage, Alaska, where he helps design long-term monitoring programs for plants and animals in five national parks in southwestern Alaska. He is senior author of Monitoring Vertebrate P