Key Topics in Conservation Biology / Edition 1

by David Macdonald, Katrina Service

Overview

This important new book addresses key topics in contemporary conservation biology. Written by an internationally renowned team of authors, Key Topics in Conservation Biology explores cutting-edge issues in modern biodiversity conservation, including controversial subjects such as rarity and prioritization, conflict between people and wildlife, the human aspect of conservation, the relevance of animal welfare, and the role of nongovernment organizations. Key Topics also tackles the management of wildlife diseases, and examines the impact of bushmeat extraction and the role of hunting in the conservationist's toolbox. Other essays explore basic tools of conservation biology, such as computer modeling, conservation genetics, metapopulation processes, and the ingenious use of hi-tech equipment. Each topic is explored by three top international experts, assembled to bring their cross-cutting knowledge to a penetrating synthesis of the issues from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

The interdisciplinary nature of biodiversity conservation is reflected throughout the book. Each essay examines the fundamental principles of the topic, the methodologies involved and, crucially, the human dimension. In this way, Key Topics in Conservation Biology embraces the issues from cutting-edge ecological science to policy, environmental economics, governance, ethics, and the practical issues of implementation.

Key Topics in Conservation Biology will be a valuable resource in universities and colleges, government departments, and conservation agencies. It is aimed particularly at senior undergraduate and graduate students in conservation biology and wildlife management, and those taking Masters degrees in any field relevant to conservation. Conservation practitioners, policy-makers, and the wider general public eager to understand more about important environmental issues will also find this book invaluable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405122498
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	11/17/2006
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

David Macdonald, D.Sc., is Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Oxford, founder and Director of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, and a Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. In addition to his conservation research, he is heavily involved in the practice and policy of conservation, and also known through his films and books on wildlife.

Katrina Service is a Lecturer in Conservation Biology at the University of East London, where she researches carnivore ecology and behavior.

Table of Contents

Preface.

List of Contributors.

List of Boxes.

1. The Pathology of Biodiversity Loss: the Practice of Conservation: Chris R. Dickman (University of Sydney), Stuart L. Pimm (Duke University) and Marcel Cardillo (Imperial College London).

2. Prioritizing Choices in Conservation: Georgina M. Mace (Zoological Society of London), Hugh P. Possingham (University of Queensland) and Nigel Leader-Williams (University of Kent).

3. What is Biodiversity Worth? Economics as a Problem and a Solution: David Pearce (deceased), Susanna Hecht (University of California at Los Angeles) and Frank Vorhies (Consultant Sustainability Economist).

4. Impacts of Modern Molecular Genetic Techniques on Conservation Biology: Eli Geffen (Tel Aviv University), Gordon Luikart (University of Montana)and Robin S. Waples (NOAA).

5. The Role of Metapopulations in Conservation: H. Resit Akçakaya (Applied Biomathematics), Gus Mills (University of Pretoria) and C. Patrick Doncaster (University of Southampton).

6. Managing Biodiversity in the Light of Climate Change: Current Biological Effects and Future Impacts: Terry L. Root (Stanford University), Diana Liverman (University of Oxford) and Chris Newman (University of Oxford).

7. Technology in Conservation: a Boon but with Small Print: Stephen A. Ellwood (University of Oxford), Rory P. Wilson (University of Wales Swansea) and Alonzo C. Addison (Virtual Heritage Network).

8. Animal Welfare and Conservation: Measuring Stress in the Wild: Graeme McLaren (UK Environment Agency), Christian Bonacic (University of Oxford) and Andrew Rowan.

9. Does Modelling have a Role in Conservation?: Mark S. Boyce (University of Alberta), Steve P. Rushton (University of Newcastle) and Tim Lynam (CSIRO).

10. Conservation in the Tropics: Evolving Roles for Governments, International Donors and Non-governement Organizations: Steve Cobb (Environment and Development Group), Joshua Ginsberg (Columbia University) and Jorgen Thomsen (Conservation International).

11. Do Parasites Matter? Infectious Diseases and the Conservation of Host Populations: Philip Riordan (University of Oxford), Peter Hudson (Penn State University) and Steve Albon (Macaulay Institute).

12. The Nature of the Beast: Using Biological Processes in Vertebrate Pest Management: Sandra Baker (University of Oxford), Grant Singleton and Rob Smith (University of Huddersfield).

13. Introduced Species and the Line between Biodiversity Conservation and Naturalistic Eugenics: David W. Macdonald (University of Oxford), Carolyn M. King (University of Waikato) and Robert Strachan (Environment Agency Wales).

14. Bushmeat: the Challenge of Balancing Human and Wildlife Needs in African Moist Tropical Forests: John E. Fa (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust), Lise Albrechtsen (Food and Agriculture Organization) and David Brown (Overseas Development Institute).

15. Does Sport Hunting Benefit Conservation?: Andrew K. Loveridge (University of Oxford), J.C. Reynolds (The Game Conservancy Trust) and E.J. Milner-Gulland (Imperial College London).

16. Can Farming and Wildlife Coexist?: Ruth E. Feber (University of Oxford), Elizabeth J. Asteraki (CAB International) and Les G. Firbank (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology).

17. Living with Wildlife: the Roots of Conflict and the Solutions: Claudio Sillero-Zubiri (University of Oxford), Raman Sukumar (Indian Institute of Science) and Adrian Treves (Makerere University).

18. Principles, Practice and Priorities: the Quest for Alignment: David W. Macdonald (University of Oxford), N. Mark Collins (Commonwealth Foundation) and Richard Wrangham (Harvard University).

Index

Editorial Reviews

'This is probably one of the best recent books on this area of work. It deserves the widest readership and should be a 'must-buy' text for the library both institutional and personal.'
British Ecological Society

“The book is well edited…I highly recommend this well-written volume…it provides diverse essays that address conservation topics in a refreshing manner…good companion textbook.”
Quarterly Review of Biology

"[T]he result is an authoritative yet accessible work, which should attract a diverse readership."
Biologist

"An excellent textbook describing various aspects of conservation science and practice … .Greatly recommended." Folia Geobotanica

From the Publisher