Avian Invasions: The Ecology and Evolution of Exotic Birds

by Tim M. Blackburn, Julie L. Lockwood, Phillip Cassey

Overview

Biological invaders represent one of the primary threats to the maintenance of global biodiversity, human health, and the success of human economic enterprises. The continuing globalization of our society ensures that the need to understand the process of biological invasion will only increase in the future. There is also a growing recognition that the study of biological invaders provides a unique insight into basic questions in ecology and evolution.

The study of exotic birds has had a particularly long history and has come to represent a fascinating intersection between the study of biological invasions, avian conservation biology, and basic principles of ecology and evolution. Avian Invasions summarizes and synthesizes this unique historical record and unravels the insights that the study of exotic birds brings to all three of these research strands. It includes chapters on the well-known contributions of exotic bird study to ecological science, and on the post-establishment evolution of introduced bird populations. The result is the most comprehensive picture yet of the invasion process.

Avian Invasions is aimed at professional avian biologists and ornithologists as well as graduate students of avian ecology, evolution and conservation. It also appeals to a more general audience of invasion ecologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199232543
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/04/2009
Series:	Oxford Avian Biology Series , #1
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Tim Blackburn is Head of the Institute of Zoology, the research division of the Zoological Society of London. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford and an Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham. His research primary research interests concern invasion biology, macroecology, and extinction.

Julie Lockwood is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University. Her interests are in the ecology and evolution of biological invaders, and the conservation of threatened birds.

Phillip Cassey is a research fellow in Systems Ecology at the University of Birmingham. He is primarily interested in the application of realistic statistical models for understanding ecological processes; particularly of extinction and invasion among birds.

Table of Contents

Preface1. Introduction to the Study of Exotic Birds2. Transport and Introduction3. The Role of Contingency in Establishment Success4. The Role of Species Traits in Establishment Success5. The Role of Location in Establishment Success6. Geographic Range Expansion of Exotic Birds7. The Ecology of Exotic Birds in Novel Locations8. The Genetics of Exotic Bird Introductions9. The Evolution of Exotic Birds10. Lessons from Exotic BirdsReferencesIndex

Editorial Reviews

"This is an extraordinary book on ecology and evolutionary biology of a special set of birds. Any biologist whose research deals even remotely with introduced species will find much of value. The coverage of life history, range expansion, and changes in niche will appeal to ecologists. The genetics and evolution of introduced birds will be of interest to evolutionary biologists. Without question, this book should be read by all invasion biologists and ornithologists. It would be extremely useful for a graduate seminar."—Integrative and Comparative Biology

"A useful and timely review of invasion ecology research in the Aves."—The Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

"An impressive literature on introductions of non-native birds with many graphical comparisons and ecological evaluations."—Conservation Biology

"Overall, this is a comprehensive, up-to-date, and exciting book. It provides a much-needed stimulus for a greater focus on avian invasions and their effects on native biodiversity, but it also illustrates how the study of exotic birds can help to advance our general understanding of invasion ecology. I predict that it will become a classic text in invasion ecology, and I strongly commend it to all who are interested in this important and growing field."—Mick Clout, PLOS Biology

"Avian Invasions is lucidly written and contains abundant ecological and evolutionary wisdom. A reader does not have to wander because all the needed biological concepts are briefly, critically, and clearly articulated. Careful reading of this book will significantly benefit budding and experienced invasive ecologists alike in refining their research plans or in obtaining new ideas."—Biological Invasions

"In this book, three leading experts combine theory with a rigorous analysis of the evidence to ask what are the causes and consequences of avian invasions. And they succeed formidably. The book is a must read for anyone interested in biological invasions, and will inspire students and academic researchers alike. It is informative, comprehensive, rigorous, stimulating and highly readable."—Trends in Ecology and Evolution

"Avian Invasions is lucidly written and contains abundant ecological and evolutionary wisdom. A reader does not have to wander because all the needed biological concepts are briefly, critically, and clearly articulated. Careful reading of this book will significantly benefit budding and experienced invasive ecologists alike in refining their research plans or in obtaining new ideas."—Biological Invasions

From the Publisher