ABSTRACT
Just like a collection of buildings devoid of human inhabitants does not make a city, a framework of trees alone does not make a forest ecosystem. Whereas the plant world is mostly sedentary, silent, and full of utilitarian hues of green for photosynthesis, wildlife enliven forests with movement, sound, and color. Wildlife heavily influence forests via behaviors, including pollination, seed dispersal, and herbivory. Importantly, proper management of forest wildlife is contingent on a sound understanding of forest wildlife ecology. In this chapter, we focus on the underlying relationships between plants and animals in forested systems and describe approaches to forest wildlife management.
