CHAPTER 1
The roots of conservation
biogeography
Robert J. Whittaker
1 and Richard J. Ladle
1,2
1 School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Vi ç osa, Brazil
1.1 WHAT IS CONSERVATION
BIOGEOGRAPHY?
For those poor souls trapped in narrow scientifi c disciplines there may be an excuse for introspection,
but that is not the nature of biogeography.
Biogeographers surely have a special responsibility
to broaden the perceptions and awareness of policy
makers and those coming new to the profession.
(Koy Thomson, 1991 , p. 477)
As many others have argued before us, we live in an era,
sometimes dubbed the Anthropocene, in which our
species has increasingly shaped the world around us,
infl uencing the physical and biological components of
ecosystems at every scale from that of our own immediate surroundings up to the whole Earth system. We
have developed, sometimes purposefully, but often haphazardly and accidentally, the habit of extinguishing
species of plants and animals, domesticating them,
assisting their spread to new territories, messing around
to varying ends with their genetics and biology, and re -
sorting them into novel communities embedded in so -
called ‘ cultural ’ landscapes. In short, we have become
the dominant force in altering the distribution, composition and diversity of life on Earth, with outcomes that
are sometimes benefi cial to the human condition and
sometimes not, depending on which changes we are
considering and the perspective of the observer.
Biologists have documented and modelled these
changes in ecology and biogeography while articulating ever - increasing concern over the many perceived
threats to biodiversity. The modern conservation movement has grown and evolved in response to these
threats, with the most prominent national and international conservation organizations setting their
sights on using the best possible scientifi c guidance to
target resources on conserving whatever aspect(s) of
biodiversity they value most highly. This book is written
with the aim of providing a resource for those wanting
to contribute to this endeavour.
There are many books on conservation biology, so it
is valid to ask why we need one on conservation biogeography and what is the operational remit of the fi eld?
We have previously defi ned ‘ conservation biogeography ’ in the following terms: ‘ the application of biogeographical principles, theories, and analyses, being
those concerned with the distributional dynamics of
taxa individually and collectively, to problems concerning the conservation of biodiversity ’ (Whittaker et al .,
2005 , p. 3).
As shown schematically in Figure 1.1 , this identifi es
conservation biogeography as a sub - set or sub - fi eld of
conservation biology. If it is a sub - fi eld, then it is one
with deep roots in the natural sciences. In broad terms,
conservation biogeography is concerned with pattern
and process over large extents of space (and time), so
we have therefore mostly excluded from this book
Conservation Biogeography
Edited by Richard J. Ladle and Robert J. Whittaker
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-444-33503-3
The roots of conservation
biogeography
Robert J. Whittaker
1 and Richard J. Ladle
1,2
1 School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Vi ç osa, Brazil
1.1 WHAT IS CONSERVATION
BIOGEOGRAPHY?
For those poor souls trapped in narrow scientifi c disciplines there may be an excuse for introspection,
but that is not the nature of biogeography.
Biogeographers surely have a special responsibility
to broaden the perceptions and awareness of policy
makers and those coming new to the profession.
(Koy Thomson, 1991 , p. 477)
As many others have argued before us, we live in an era,
sometimes dubbed the Anthropocene, in which our
species has increasingly shaped the world around us,
infl uencing the physical and biological components of
ecosystems at every scale from that of our own immediate surroundings up to the whole Earth system. We
have developed, sometimes purposefully, but often haphazardly and accidentally, the habit of extinguishing
species of plants and animals, domesticating them,
assisting their spread to new territories, messing around
to varying ends with their genetics and biology, and re -
sorting them into novel communities embedded in so -
called ‘ cultural ’ landscapes. In short, we have become
the dominant force in altering the distribution, composition and diversity of life on Earth, with outcomes that
are sometimes benefi cial to the human condition and
sometimes not, depending on which changes we are
considering and the perspective of the observer.
Biologists have documented and modelled these
changes in ecology and biogeography while articulating ever - increasing concern over the many perceived
threats to biodiversity. The modern conservation movement has grown and evolved in response to these
threats, with the most prominent national and international conservation organizations setting their
sights on using the best possible scientifi c guidance to
target resources on conserving whatever aspect(s) of
biodiversity they value most highly. This book is written
with the aim of providing a resource for those wanting
to contribute to this endeavour.
There are many books on conservation biology, so it
is valid to ask why we need one on conservation biogeography and what is the operational remit of the fi eld?
We have previously defi ned ‘ conservation biogeography ’ in the following terms: ‘ the application of biogeographical principles, theories, and analyses, being
those concerned with the distributional dynamics of
taxa individually and collectively, to problems concerning the conservation of biodiversity ’ (Whittaker et al .,
2005 , p. 3).
As shown schematically in Figure 1.1 , this identifi es
conservation biogeography as a sub - set or sub - fi eld of
conservation biology. If it is a sub - fi eld, then it is one
with deep roots in the natural sciences. In broad terms,
conservation biogeography is concerned with pattern
and process over large extents of space (and time), so
we have therefore mostly excluded from this book
Conservation Biogeography
Edited by Richard J. Ladle and Robert J. Whittaker
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-444-33503-3