Alien Species in North America and Hawaii

by Cox, George W.

• ISBN13: 9781559636803
• ISBN10: 1559636807
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

The world is in the midst of an ecological explosion with devastating implications. Thousands of species of microbes, plants, and animals are being introduced, both deliberately and inadvertently, to new land areas, seas, and freshwaters. In many regions, these new colonists are running wild, disrupting the dynamics of ecosystems, pushing native species toward extinction, and causing billions of dollars in direct economic damages.Alien Species in North America and Hawaiiprovides a comprehensive overview of the invasive species phenomenon, examining the threats posed and the damage that has already been done to ecosystems across North America and Hawaii. George W. Cox considers both the biological theory underlying invasions and the potential and actual effects on ecosystems and human activities. His book offers a framework for understanding the problem and provides a detailed examination of species and regions. Specific chapters examine: North American invaders and their threats how exotic species are dispersed to new regions how physical and biotic features influence the establishment and spread of invasives patterns of exotic invasions, with separate chapters covering each of the ten most seriously invaded regions and ecosystems patterns of invasiveness exhibited by major groups of exotics the theory of invasive capability of alien species and the resistance of communities to invasion theoretical aspects of ecosystem impacts of invaders and the evolutionary interaction of invaders and natives management and public policy issuesAlien Species in North America and Hawaiioffers for the first time an assessment and synthesis of the problem of invasive species in North American and Hawaiian ecosystems. Scientists, conservation professionals, policymakers, and anyone involved with the study and control of invasive species will find the book an essential guide and reference to one of the most serious and widespread threats to global biodiversity.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Part I. Introduction	1	(36)
The Threat of Exotics: Biotic Pollution	3	(10)
North American Invaders: The Invited and the Uninvited	13	(12)
A Brief History of Invasions: Human History---An Exotic's Perspective	25	(12)
Part II. Regional Perspectives	37	(152)
The Eastern Seaboard: Exotics Discover America	39	(14)
West Coast Bays and Estuaries: Swamping the Natives	53	(14)
Northern Temperate Lakes: Chaos along the Food Chain	67	(16)
Western Rivers and Streams: Pollution That Won't Wash Away	83	(12)
Eastern Forests: The Dark Side of Forest Biodiversity	95	(16)
Florida and the Gulf Lowlands: Hostile Ecosystem Takeovers	111	(16)
Plains and Intermonatane Grasslands: Exotics at Home on the Range	127	(16)
Western Floodplains: Disturbing the Disturbance Regime	143	(16)
The Pacific States: Mediterranean Mixing Pot	159	(14)
Hawaiian Islands: Exotics in the Islands of Eden	173	(16)
Part III. Biotic Perspectives	189	(44)
Exotic Game and Fish: Addiction to Game and Fish Introduction	191	(14)
Homegrown Exotics: Natives Out of Place	205	(14)
Human Domesticates and Associates: Our Best Friends and Closest Associates	219	(14)
Part IV. Theoretical Perspectives	233	(46)
Exotics and Community Structure: Biodiversity Bombs	235	(14)
Exotics and Ecosystem Impacts: Changing the Way Nature Works	249	(14)
Exotics and Evolution: Assimilation or Conquest?	263	(16)
Part V. Policy Perspectives	279	(36)
Living with Exotics: The Ecological Economics of Exotics	281	(18)
Exotics and Public Policy: Are All Exotics Undesirable?	299	(16)
Literature Cited	315	(44)
Glossary	359	(4)
Appendix: Internet Sources for Exotic Species	363	(4)
About the Author	367	(2)
Index	369