Conservation Biology

This colourful textbook introduces students to conservation biology, the science of preserving biodiversity.

Andrew S. Pullin (Author)

9780521644822, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 27 June 2002

358 pages, 119 b/w illus. 46 maps 15 tables
24.4 x 18.8 x 2 cm, 0.859 kg

'… a very good introduction and well worth recommending to students.' Glasgow Naturalist

Conservation biology is fast emerging as a major new discipline, which incorporates biological principles in the design of effective strategies for the sustainable management of populations, species and entire ecosystems. This beautifully illustrated textbook introduces students to conservation biology, the science of preserving biodiversity. It begins by taking the reader on a tour of the many and varied ecosystems of our planet, providing a setting in which to explore the factors that have led to the alarming loss of biodiversity that we now see. In particular the fundamental problems of habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat disturbance and the non-sustainable exploitation of species in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are explored. The methods that have been developed to address these problems, from the most traditional forms of conservation, to new approaches at genetic to landscape scales are then discussed, showing how the science can be put into practice.

Part I: 1. The natural world
2. Major world ecosystems
Part II: 3. The human impact
4. The effects of habitat destruction
5. The effects of habitat disturbance
6. Non-sustainable use
Part III: 7. The rise of conservation biology
8. Selecting protected areas
9. Design and management of protected areas
10. Protecting species I. In situ conservation
11. Protecting species II. Ex-situ conservation and re-introduction
12. Landscape scale conservation
13. Conserving the evolutionary process (a longer-term view of conservation)
14. Ecological restoration
15. Putting the science in to practice.

Subject Areas: Conservation of wildlife & habitats [RNKH], Insects [entomology PSVT7], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]