Plant Microevolution and Conservation in Human-influenced Ecosystems

With particular emphasis on plants, this thought-provoking text examines the implications of human influences on micro-evolutionary processes.

David Briggs (Author)

9780521818353, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 November 2009

618 pages, 12 b/w illus. 18 tables
25.5 x 18 x 3.1 cm, 1.35 kg

'David Briggs has produced a resoundingly fascinating overview of the effects of human influences on microevolutionary processes in a wide range of plants and habitats, ranging from weeds to rainforests … This is an important book, which should be devoured by students.' Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

As human activities are increasingly domesticating the Earth's ecosystems, new selection pressures are acting to produce winners and losers amongst our wildlife. With particular emphasis on plants, Briggs examines the implications of human influences on micro-evolutionary processes in different groups of organisms, including wild, weedy, invasive, feral, and endangered species. Using case studies from around the world, he argues that Darwinian evolution is ongoing. He considers how far it is possible to conserve endangered species and threatened ecosystems through management, and questions the extent to which damaged landscapes and their plant and animal communities can be precisely recreated or restored. Many of Darwin's ideas are highlighted, including his insights into natural selection, speciation, the vulnerability of rare organisms, the impact of invasive species, and the effects of climate change on organisms. An important text for students and researchers of evolution, conservation, climate change and sustainable use of resources.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Studying change
3. Key concepts in plant evolution
4. The origin and extent of human-influenced habitats
5. Consequences of human influences on the biosphere
6. Categories
7. Investigating microevolution in anthropogenic ecosystems
8. Plant microevolution in managed grassland ecosystems
9. Harvesting crops: arable and forestry
10. Pollution and microevolutionary change
11. Introduced plants
12. Endangered species: investigating the extinction processes at the population level
13. Hybrids and speciation in anthropogenically-influenced ecosystems
14. Ex situ conservation: within and outside reserves
15. In situ conservation
16. Creative conservation through restoration and reintroduction
17. Reserves in the landscape
18. Climate change
19. Microevolution and climate change
20. The implications of climate change for the theory and practice of conservation
21. Overview
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Conservation of the environment [RNK], Plant ecology [PSTS], Botany & plant sciences [PST]