A study of Europe's best preserved temperate forest as a model for predator-prey relationships. It presents carnivores, raptors and their prey in the complicated net of interrelationships, and shows them against the background of their biotic and abiotic settings. The role of predation, whether limiting or regulating prey (ungulate, rodent, shrew, bird and amphibian) populations, is quantified and compared to parts played by other factors: climate, food resources for prey, and availability of other potential resources for predators.
Introduction * Bialowieza Primeval Forest - Abiotic Conditions and Habitats * Abundance of Prey * Numbers, Distribution and Home Ranges of Predators * Diets and Hunting Habits of Predators * Predation Impact and Its Importance to Prey Populations * References * Subject Index