Fish Conservation

by Helfman, Gene S.

• ISBN13: 9781559635967
• ISBN10: 1559635967
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-07-15
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

Fish Conservationoffers, for the first time in a single volume, a readable reference with a global approach to marine and freshwater fish diversity and fishery resource issues. Gene Helfman brings together available knowledge on the decline and restoration of freshwater and marine fishes, providing ecologically sound answers to biodiversity declines as well as to fishery management problems at the subsistence, recreational, and commercial levels. Written in an engaging and accessible style, the book: considers the value of preserving aquatic biodiversity offers an overview of imperiled fishes on a taxonomic and geographic basis presents a synthesis of common characteristics of imperiled fishes and their habitats details anthropogenic causes of decline examines human exploitation issues addresses ethical questions surrounding exploitation of fishes The final chapter integrates topics and evaluates prospects for arresting declines, emphasizing the application of evolutionary and ecological principles in light of projected trends. Throughout, Helfman provides examples, explores case studies, and synthesizes available information from a broad taxonomic, habitat, and geographic range. Fish Conservationsummarizes the current state of knowledge about the degradation and restoration of diversity among fishes and the productivity of fishery resources, pointing out areas where progress has been made and where more needs to be done. Solutions focus on the application of ecological knowledge to solving practical problems, recognizing that effective biodiversity conservation depends on meeting human needs through management that focuses on long term sustainability and an ecosystem perspective.

Author Biography

Gene S. Helfman is emeritus professor in the Institute of Ecology and the program

in conservation ecology and sustainable development at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Fish biodiversity and why it should matter	p. 3
Imperiled fishes : taxonomy, geography, and vulnerability
Roll call I : a taxonomic perspective	p. 19
Roll call II : a geopolitical perspective	p. 49
Characteristics of vulnerable species and correlates of imperilment	p. 75
Indirect causes of decline : habitat, water, and introductions
Habitat modification and loss	p. 97
Dams, impoundments, and other hydrological alterations	p. 130
Degraded water quality	p. 158
Alien species I : case histories, mechanisms, and levels of impact	p. 200
Alien species II : understanding the process, minimizing the impact	p. 223
Direct causes of decline : fishes as commodities
Fishes versus fisheries I : overfishing	p. 253
Fishes versus fisheries II : behavior, life history evolution, and ecosystems	p. 304
Coral reefs, fishes, and fisheries : exploitation in fragile ecosystems	p. 334
The trade in live fishes	p. 365
The promise of aquaculture and hatcheries	p. 407
Asking hard questions, sorting out answers
The ethics of exploitation and intervention : do we have the right?	p. 441
Future perspectives : beyond gloom and doom?	p. 455
Probable fish extinctions	p. 469
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