Fundamentals of Conservation Biology

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 subject’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. Artwork from the book is available to instructors at www.blackwellpublishing.com/hunter

Spis treści:
Full Contents.
List of Case Studies.
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Part I: Biodiversity and Its Importance:.
1. Conservation and Conservation Biology.
2. What is Biodiversity?.
3. Species Diversity.
4. Ecosystem Diversity.
5. Genetic Diversity.
Part II: Threats to Biodiversity:.
6. Mass Extinctions and Global Change.
7. Extinction Processes.
8. Ecosystem Degradation and Loss.
9. Overexploitation.
10. Invasive Exotics.
Part III: Maintaining Biodiversity:.
11. Protecting Ecosystems.
12. Managing Ecosystems.
13. Managing Populations.
14. Zoos and Gardens.
Part IV: The Human Factors:.
15. Social Facto rs.
16. Economics.
17. Politics and Action.
Epilogue.
Glossary.
Literature Cited and Author Index.
Species Index.
Subject Index

Nota biograficzna:
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.

Okładka tylna:
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 subject’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. Artwork from the book is available to instructors at www.blackwellpublishing.com/hunter