The Conservation of Plant Biodiversity

Discusses the various options for conserving plants at the level of the gene, species and community.

Otto Herzberg Frankel (Author), Anthony H. D. Brown (Author), Jeremy James Burdon (Author)

9780521467315, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 September 1995

316 pages, 36 b/w illus. 15 tables
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.531 kg

'A number of useful issues are discussed, notably the in - situ/ex- situ debate which is rapidly coming to the fore.' TEG News

The Conservation of Plant Biodiversity highlights the different levels of biological organisation at which conservation is being addressed - the gene, the species and the community. Conservation biology is faced with several controversial issues such as the dichotomy between the preservation of individual species versus a broader focus on the environment, the relative importance to give to endangered species, the design and management of reserves and the drive for increasing agricultural productivity through plant improvement versus the drive to maintain traditional peasant varieties in cultivation. These and other issues are dealt with here by emphasising and exploring the underlying scientific principles. The conservation of whole communities emerges as the paramount strategy for maintaining the evolutionary potential of plant life.

Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. The biological system of conservation
Part II. Diversity and Conservation of Plant Genes: 2. The genetic diversity of wild plants
3. The genetic diversity of cultivated plants
4. The conservation of cultivated plants
Part III. Conservation of Plant Species: 5. Plant species conservation and population biology
6. The conservation in situ of useful or endangered wild species
7. Ex situ conservation of threatened and endangered plants
Part IV. Conservation of Plant Communities: 8. Community structure and species interactions
9. Choosing plant community reserves
10. Managing plant community reserves
11. Conclusions
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Applied ecology [RNC], Genetics [non-medical PSAK], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]