12
The roots of conservation biogeography
chapter also contains extensive examples of how to
conduct systematic conservation planning in marine
and terrestrial ecosystems.
The third part of the book, Conservation planning in a changing world (Chapters 7 – 9 ), addresses
some of the key challenges to undertaking effective
conservation during a time of unprecedented ecological change. Chapter 7 , Planning for persistence in a
changing world , starts by comparing current ecological
trends to past changes in the biota. It follows this by an
extensive analysis of methods used to predict biodiversity change (e.g. species distribution models, range
shift models). Using the insights from these studies, the
chapter concludes with a discussion of the need for
dynamic conservation planning approaches that are
fl exible and responsive to changing predictions about
the potential fate of the natural environment.
One of the key biogeographical questions in conservation is how biodiversity will respond to the continuing and widespread loss and fragmentation of natural
and semi - natural habitats. Chapter 8 , Applied island
biogeography , explores the implications of this insularization of formally contiguous ecosystems and reviews
the pervasive infl uence of the equilibrium theory of
island biogeography on the conceptual development
and practice of conservation. The chapter covers
important applied issues such as the use of the species –
area relationship, efforts to model metapopulation
dynamics, analyses of nestedness, edge effects and the
effi cacy of habitat corridors and the infl uence of
varying types of matrix habitats on the abilities of
threatened species to disperse between high quality
habitat. It ends with a discussion of how conceptual
advances can be converted into practical solutions and
guidelines for conservation.
Part 3 concludes with Chapter 9 , Biological invasions
and the homogenization of faunas and fl oras , which
tackles one of the greatest challenges in modern conservation: how to understand, control and manage
introduced species. The chapter starts by reviewing the
biogeography of invasion and the process by which
regionally distinct, native communities are gradually
replaced by locally expanding, cosmopolitan, non -
native communities (homogenization). After brief
review of patterns of homogenization by taxon, it
addresses the human causes of this process and concludes with a discussion of what these novel assemblages might mean for the future of conservation.
The fi nal part of the book, Future directions , contains a single chapter entitled Prospects and challenges ,
which discusses the future of conservation biogeography and focuses on the global challenge of fi lling the
Wallacean and Linnean shortfalls, the rapid evolution
of predictive models and the necessity to develop tools
and applications that fulfi l the needs of society to
develop sustainably. The chapter casts an eye over new
technological developments, such as the latest generation of biodiversity information systems that have the
potential to radically alter the amount and quality of
data available to biogeographers. The book concludes
with some refl ections on the role of conservation biogeographers in shaping the future of conservation and
how to engage more fully with society and real - world
conservation issues.
Each main chapter contains a selection of suggested
key readings in addition to the extensive literature cited
within the text. The purpose of these readings is to
guide students to core texts, seminal papers or stimulating contributions that expand upon topics within
the chapter. Each main chapter also concludes by
raising a number of questions that could form the basis
of a class discussion or may be used to test understanding of the material.
SUGGESTED READING
Grehan , J.R. ( 1993 ) Conservation biogeography and the biodiversity crisis: a global problem in space/time . Biodiversity
Letters , 1 , 134 – 140 . [Of historic interest as the fi rst use of
the term ‘ conservation biogeography ’ of which we are
aware]
Lomolino , M.V. & Heaney , L.R. (eds.) ( 2004 ) Frontiers of
biogeography: new directions in the geography of nature ,
Sinauer Associates , Sunderland, MA.
Primack , R.B. ( 2002 ) Essentials of conservation biology , 3rd
edn , Sinauer Press, Inc. , Sunderland, MA .
Whittaker , R.J. , Ara ú jo , M.B. , Jepson , P. , Ladle , R.J. , Watson ,
J.E.M. & Willis , K.J. ( 2005 ) Conservation biogeography:
assessment and prospect . Diversity and Distributions , 11 ,
3 – 23 .
The roots of conservation biogeography
chapter also contains extensive examples of how to
conduct systematic conservation planning in marine
and terrestrial ecosystems.
The third part of the book, Conservation planning in a changing world (Chapters 7 – 9 ), addresses
some of the key challenges to undertaking effective
conservation during a time of unprecedented ecological change. Chapter 7 , Planning for persistence in a
changing world , starts by comparing current ecological
trends to past changes in the biota. It follows this by an
extensive analysis of methods used to predict biodiversity change (e.g. species distribution models, range
shift models). Using the insights from these studies, the
chapter concludes with a discussion of the need for
dynamic conservation planning approaches that are
fl exible and responsive to changing predictions about
the potential fate of the natural environment.
One of the key biogeographical questions in conservation is how biodiversity will respond to the continuing and widespread loss and fragmentation of natural
and semi - natural habitats. Chapter 8 , Applied island
biogeography , explores the implications of this insularization of formally contiguous ecosystems and reviews
the pervasive infl uence of the equilibrium theory of
island biogeography on the conceptual development
and practice of conservation. The chapter covers
important applied issues such as the use of the species –
area relationship, efforts to model metapopulation
dynamics, analyses of nestedness, edge effects and the
effi cacy of habitat corridors and the infl uence of
varying types of matrix habitats on the abilities of
threatened species to disperse between high quality
habitat. It ends with a discussion of how conceptual
advances can be converted into practical solutions and
guidelines for conservation.
Part 3 concludes with Chapter 9 , Biological invasions
and the homogenization of faunas and fl oras , which
tackles one of the greatest challenges in modern conservation: how to understand, control and manage
introduced species. The chapter starts by reviewing the
biogeography of invasion and the process by which
regionally distinct, native communities are gradually
replaced by locally expanding, cosmopolitan, non -
native communities (homogenization). After brief
review of patterns of homogenization by taxon, it
addresses the human causes of this process and concludes with a discussion of what these novel assemblages might mean for the future of conservation.
The fi nal part of the book, Future directions , contains a single chapter entitled Prospects and challenges ,
which discusses the future of conservation biogeography and focuses on the global challenge of fi lling the
Wallacean and Linnean shortfalls, the rapid evolution
of predictive models and the necessity to develop tools
and applications that fulfi l the needs of society to
develop sustainably. The chapter casts an eye over new
technological developments, such as the latest generation of biodiversity information systems that have the
potential to radically alter the amount and quality of
data available to biogeographers. The book concludes
with some refl ections on the role of conservation biogeographers in shaping the future of conservation and
how to engage more fully with society and real - world
conservation issues.
Each main chapter contains a selection of suggested
key readings in addition to the extensive literature cited
within the text. The purpose of these readings is to
guide students to core texts, seminal papers or stimulating contributions that expand upon topics within
the chapter. Each main chapter also concludes by
raising a number of questions that could form the basis
of a class discussion or may be used to test understanding of the material.
SUGGESTED READING
Grehan , J.R. ( 1993 ) Conservation biogeography and the biodiversity crisis: a global problem in space/time . Biodiversity
Letters , 1 , 134 – 140 . [Of historic interest as the fi rst use of
the term ‘ conservation biogeography ’ of which we are
aware]
Lomolino , M.V. & Heaney , L.R. (eds.) ( 2004 ) Frontiers of
biogeography: new directions in the geography of nature ,
Sinauer Associates , Sunderland, MA.
Primack , R.B. ( 2002 ) Essentials of conservation biology , 3rd
edn , Sinauer Press, Inc. , Sunderland, MA .
Whittaker , R.J. , Ara ú jo , M.B. , Jepson , P. , Ladle , R.J. , Watson ,
J.E.M. & Willis , K.J. ( 2005 ) Conservation biogeography:
assessment and prospect . Diversity and Distributions , 11 ,
3 – 23 .