Fundamentals of Conservation Biology (eBook)

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. James Gibbs, Malcolm Hunter, and Eleanor Sterling are the authors of the forthcoming new edition of Problem Solving in Conservation Biology (Blackwell, 2007).

Fundamentals of Conservation Biology 1
Contents 7
List of Case Studies 11
Preface 13
Acknowledgments 16
PART I Biodiversity and Its Importance 19
Chapter 1: Conservation and Conservation Biology 20
What Is Conservation? 20
A Brief History of Conservation 21
An Overview of Conservation Ethics 26
What Is Conservation Biology? 30
A Brief History of a Young Discipline 31
Summary 36
Chapter 2: What Is Biodiversity? 38
Species, Genes, and Ecosystems 38
Structure and Function 40
Measuring Biodiversity 40
The Mismeasure of Biodiversity 42
Biodiversity and Spatial Scales 42
Biodiversity Verbs 45
The Related Concepts of “Integrity” and “Sustainability” 45
Summary 49
Chapter 3: Species Diversity 50
What Is a Species? 50
How Many Species Are There? 52
The Intrinsic Value of Species and Their Conservation Status 56
The Instrumental Values of Species 61
The Uniqueness Value of Species 76
Summary 79
Chapter 4: Ecosystem Diversity 81
What Is an Ecosystem? 81
The Values of Ecosystems 86
Ecosystem Diversity and Species Diversity 93
Ecosystems and Landscapes 96
Summary 100
Chapter 5: Genetic Diversity 102
What Is Genetic Diversity? 102
The Importance of Genetic Diversity 108
Processes that Diminish Genetic Diversity 115
Cultural Diversity 122
Summary 126
PART II Threats to Biodiversity 129
Chapter 6: Mass Extinctions and Global Change 130
Extinction Episodes of the Past 130
Estimating the Current Rate of Extinction 134
The Prospect of Global Climate Change 137
Summary 144
Chapter 7: Extinction Processes 146
Why Are Some Species More Vulnerable to Extinction than Others? 146
Populations 151
Population Viability Analysis 155
Summary 164
Chapter 8: Ecosystem Degradation and Loss 166
Contamination 168
Roads, Dams, and Other Structures 174
Earth, Fire, Water 178
Deforestation 181
Desertification 184
Draining, Dredging, Damming, etc. 186
Fragmentation 190
Summary 198
Chapter 9: Overexploitation 200
The Long History of Overexploitation 200
Types of Exploitation 204
Consequences of Overexploitation 210
Some Final Perspectives on Exploitation 213
Summary 219
Chapter 10: Invasive Exotics 221
How Do Species Move? 222
Impacts of Invasive Exotics 228
Success Rates 233
Irony 234
Summary 238
PART III Maintaining Biodiversity 241
Chapter 11: Protecting Ecosystems 242
Reserve Selection 244
Reserve Design 251
Reserve Management 259
Summary 266
Chapter 12: Managing Ecosystems 268
Modified Ecosystems 268
Cultivated Ecosystems 277
Built Ecosystems 283
Restoring Ecosystems 286
Summary 295
Chapter 13: Managing Populations 297
Providing Resources 298
Controlling Threats 303
Direct Manipulations 314
Epilogue 324
Summary 324
Chapter 14: Zoos and Gardens 326
Changing Roles 326
Building Arks 328
The ex Situ–in Situ Interface 335
Conservation of Domesticated Species 338
Summary 341
PART IV The Human Factors 345
Chapter 15: Social Factors 346
Values Differ 346
Describing Values 352
Values Change 354
Summary 360
Chapter 16: Economics 362
The Benefits 362
The Costs 371
The Distribution of Benefits and Costs 372
Problems and Solutions 374
Summary 386
Chapter 17: Politics and Action 388
Setting Priorities for Action 388
Rights and Responsibilities 395
International Agencies 395
Governments 400
Nongovernmental Organizations 401
Corporations 402
Communities 403
Individuals 404
Summary 406
Epilogue 408
Glossary 410
Literature Cited and Author Index 421
Species Index 492
Subject Index 502

"Drawing on their experience in teaching and instructive writing,
the authors provide an accessible, well-organized and updated
review suitable for undergraduate and graduate students in various
biological and environmental sciences. The book will also serve as
a reference work for researchers, and the expressive and lively
prose, reflecting the dedication of the authors, will hopefully
inspire not only future conservation biologists but anyone who is
interested in the richness of life surrounding us."
(Écoscience, Volume 15, Issue 4, 2008)

"One could imagine a whole course being based on this book as it
has so much to offer." (Journal of Biological Education)

"This new edition continues to be an excellent choice for
undergraduate courses in conservation biology - notable for its
well-honed organization of concepts and its clear
prose."

-Professor Thomas L Fleischner, Prescott
College



"This is an excellent text that provides a clear, lucid, and
comprehensive summary of approaches used in biological
conservation. It should inspire a new generation of conservation
biologists."

-Tim Coulson, Imperial College, London

"My goal is to expose the concepts of conservation biology to
the broadest possible student audience. For its combination of
accessible writing with rigorous, updated content, Fundamentals
of Conservation Biology is matchless."

-Professor Travis Knowles, Francis Marion
University

"Hunter and Gibbs have produced an excellent text, one that uses
an array of concrete examples, ethical principles, and theory to
challenge and engage students. Fundamentals of Conservation
Biology should remain one of the standards in the field for
years to come."

-Dr Christopher Norment, SUNY College at
Brockport

"Hunter and Gibbs comprehensively present conservation biology
with both clarity and charm. It includes excellent examples and
case studies, current issues and topics, and recent references that
will certainly appeal to faculty and students in the conservation
sciences."

-Dr Jamie M Kneitel, California State University,
Sacramento