Fundamentals of Conservation Biology, 3rd Edition

by Hunter, Malcolm L.; Gibbs, James P.

• ISBN13: 9781405135450
• ISBN10: 140513545X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-23
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The conservation of biodiversity is one of the most important issues facing the world today. In the new edition of this highly successful book, Malcolm Hunter and new coauthor James Gibbs offer a thorough introduction to the fascinating and important field of conservation biology, focusing on what can be done to maintain biodiversity through management of ecosystems and populations. Starting with a succinct look at conservation and biodiversity, this book goes on to contend with some of the subjectrs"s most complex topics, such as mass extinctions, ecosystem degradation, and over exploitation. Discussions of the social, political, and economic aspects of conservation biology issues are both interwoven throughout the text and addressed independently in their own chapters. This new edition has been thoroughly revised with more than 750 new references, web links to many of the organizations involved in conservation biology, and striking full-color figures, photographs, and maps. Hunter and Gibbs have created a context in which the principles of conservation biology can be readily understood and applied to managing real world populations and ecosystems.

Author Biography

Malcolm Hunter is the Libra Professor of Conservation Biology and Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Maine, Orono. He is also the former President of the Society for Conservation Biology.

James Gibbs is Associate Professor of Environmental and Forest Biology at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Table of Contents

List of Case Studies	xi
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xvi
PART I Biodiversity and Its Importance	3	(110)
Conservation and Conservation Biology	4	(18)
What Is Conservation?	4	(1)
A Brief History of Conservation	5	(5)
An Overview of Conservation Ethics	10	(4)
What Is Conservation Biology?	14	(1)
A Brief History of a Young Discipline	15	(5)
Summary	20	(2)
What Is Biodiversity?	22	(12)
Species, Genes, and Ecosystems	22	(2)
Structure and Function	24	(1)
Measuring Biodiversity	24	(2)
The Mismeasure of Biodiversity	26	(1)
Biodiversity and Spatial Scales	26	(3)
Biodiversity Verbs	29	(1)
The Related Concepts of ``Integrity'' and ``Sustainability''	29	(4)
Summary	33	(1)
Species Diversity	34	(31)
What Is a Species?	34	(2)
How Many Species Are There?	36	(4)
The Intrinsic Value of Species and Their Conservation Status	40	(5)
The Instrumental Values of Species	45	(15)
The Uniqueness Value of Species	60	(3)
Summary	63	(2)
Ecosystem Diversity	65	(21)
What Is an Ecosystem?	65	(5)
The Values of Ecosystems	70	(7)
Ecosystem Diversity and Species Diversity	77	(3)
Ecosystems and Landscapes	80	(4)
Summary	84	(2)
Genetic Diversity	86	(27)
What Is Genetic Diversity?	86	(6)
The Importance of Genetic Diversity	92	(7)
Processes that Diminish Genetic Diversity	99	(7)
Cultural Diversity	106	(1)
Summary	106	(7)
PART II Threats to Biodiversity	113	(112)
Mass Extinctions and Global Change	114	(16)
Extinction Episodes of the Past	114	(4)
Estimating the Current Rate of Extinction	118	(3)
The Prospect of Global Climate Change	121	(7)
Summary	128	(2)
Extinction Processes	130	(20)
Why Are Some Species More Vulnerable to Extinction than Others?	130	(5)
Populations	135	(4)
Population Viability Analysis	139	(9)
Summary	148	(2)
Ecosystem Degradation and Loss	150	(34)
Contamination	152	(6)
Roads, Dams, and Other Structures	158	(4)
Earth, Fire, Water	162	(3)
Deforestation	165	(3)
Desertification	168	(2)
Draining, Dredging Damming, etc.	170	(4)
Fragmentation	174	(8)
Summary	182	(2)
Overexploitation	184	(21)
The Long History of Overexploitation	184	(4)
Types of Exploitation	188	(6)
Consequences of Overexploitation	194	(3)
Some Final Perspectives on Exploitation	197	(6)
Summary	203	(2)
Invasive Exotics	205	(20)
How Do Species Move?	206	(6)
Impacts of Invasive Exotics	212	(5)
Success Rates	217	(1)
Irony	218	(4)
Summary	222	(3)
PART III Maintaining Biodiversity	225	(104)
Protecting Ecosystems	226	(26)
Reserve Selection	228	(7)
Reserve Design	235	(8)
Reserve Management	243	(4)
Summary	247	(5)
Managing Ecosystems	252	(29)
Modified Ecosystems	252	(9)
Cultivated Ecosystems	261	(6)
Built Ecosystems	267	(3)
Restoring Ecosystems	270	(9)
Summary	279	(2)
Managing Populations	281	(29)
Providing Resources	282	(5)
Controlling Threats	287	(11)
Direct Manipulations	298	(10)
Epilogue	308	(1)
Summary	308	(2)
Zoos and Gardens	310	(19)
Changing Roles	310	(2)
Building Arks	312	(7)
The ex Situ--in Situ Interface	319	(3)
Conservation of Domesticated Species	322	(3)
Summary	325	(4)
PART IV The Human Factors	329	(63)
Social Factors	330	(16)
Values Differ	330	(6)
Describing Values	336	(2)
Values Change	338	(6)
Summary	344	(2)
Economics	346	(26)
The Benefits	346	(9)
The Costs	355	(1)
The Distribution of Benefits and Costs	356	(2)
Problems and Solutions	358	(12)
Summary	370	(2)
Politics and Action	372	(20)
Setting Priorities for Action	372	(7)
Rights and Responsibilities	379	(1)
International Agencies	379	(5)
Governments	384	(1)
Nongovernmental Organizations	385	(1)
Corporations	386	(1)
Communities	387	(1)
Individuals	388	(2)
Summary	390	(2)
Epilogue	392	(2)
Glossary	394	(11)
Literature Cited and Author Index	405	(71)
Species Index	476	(10)
Subject Index	486