Cover
Front Matter
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
An International Approach
Media and Supplements
Chapter 1 Defining Conservation Biology
The New Science of Conservation Biology
The roots of conservation biology
A new science is born
The interdisciplinary approach: A case study with sea turtles
The Ethical Principles of Conservation Biology
Looking to the Future
Summary
Chapter 2 What Is Biodiversity?
Species Diversity
What is a species?
Measuring species diversity
Genetic Diversity
Ecosystem Diversity
What are communities and ecosystems?
Species interactions within ecosystems
Food chains and food webs
Keystone species and resources
Ecosystem dynamics
Biodiversity Worldwide
How many species exist worldwide?
Where is the worldβs biodiversity found?
The distribution of species
Summary
Chapter 3 The Value of Biodiversity
Ecological and Environmental Economics
Costβbenefit analysis
Financing conservation
What are species worth?
Ecosystem services
Economic Use Values
Direct use values
Consumptive use value
Productive use value
Indirect use values
Ecosystem productivity
Water and soil protection
Climate regulation
Species relationships and environmental monitors
Amenity value
Educational and scientific value
Multiple uses of a single resource: A case study
The Long-Term View: Option Value
Existence Value
Environmental Ethics
Ethical values of biodiversity
Deep ecology
Summary
Chapter 4 Threats to Biodiversity
Human Population Growth and Its Impact
Habitat Destruction
Tropical rain forests
Other threatened habitats
Desertification
Habitat Fragmentation
Threats posed by habitat fragmentation
Edge effects
Environmental Degradation and Pollution
Pesticide pollution
Water pollution
Air pollution
Global Climate Change
Ocean acidification, warming, and rising sea level
The overall effect of global warming
Overexploitation
International wildlife trade
Commercial harvesting
Invasive Species
Threats posed by invasive species
Invasive species on oceanic islands
Invasive species in aquatic habitats
The ability of species to become invasive
Control of invasive species
GMOs and conservation biology
Disease
A Concluding Remark
Summary
Chapter 5 Extinction Is Forever
The Meaning of βExtinctβ
The current, human-caused mass extinction
Local extinctions
Extinction rates in aquatic environments
Measuring Extinction
Background extinction rates
Extinction rate predictions and the island biogeography model
Extinction rates and habitat loss
Vulnerability to Extinction
Problems of Small Populations
Loss of genetic diversity
Consequences of reduced genetic diversity
Factors that determine effective population size
Other factors that affect the persistence of small populations
Demographic stochasticity
Environmental stochasticity and catastrophes
The extinction vortex
Summary
Chapter 6 Conserving Populations and Species
Applied Population Biology
Methods for studying populations
Population viability analysis
PVA)
Metapopulations
Long-term monitoring
Conservation Categories
Prioritization: What Should Be Protected?
Legal Protection of Species
National laws
International agreements to protect species
Summary
Chapter 7 Bringing Species Back from the Brink
Establishing and Reinforcing Populations
Considerations for animal programs
Behavioral ecology of released animals
Establishing plant populations
The status of new populations
Ex Situ Conservation Strategies
Zoos
Aquariums
Botanical gardens
Seed banks
Can Technology Bring Back Extinct Species?
Summary
Chapter 8 Protected Areas
Establishment and Classification of Protected Areas
MPAs)
Marine protected areas
The effectiveness of protected areas
Measuring effectiveness: Gap analysis
Designing Protected Areas
Protected area size and characteristics
Networks of Protected Areas
Habitat corridors
Landscape Ecology and Park Design
Managing Protected Areas
Managing sites
Monitoring sites
Management and people
Zoning as a solution to conflicting demands
Biosphere reserves
Challenges to Park Management
Poaching
Trophy hunting
Humanβanimal conflict
Degradation
Climate change
Funding and personnel
Summary
Chapter 9 Conservation Outside Protected Areas
The Value of Unprotected Habitat
Military land
Unprotected forests
Unprotected grasslands
Unprotected waters
Land that is undesirable to humans
Private land
Conservation in Urban and Other Human-Dominated Areas
Other human-dominated landscapes
Ecosystem Management
Working with Local People
Biosphere reserves
In situ agricultural conservation
Extractive reserves
Community-based initiatives
Payments for ecosystem services
Evaluating conservation initiatives that involve traditional societies
Case Studies: Namibia and Kenya
Summary
Chapter 10 Restoration Ecology
Where to Start?
Restoration in Urban Areas
Restoration Using Organisms
Moving Targets of Restoration
Restoration of Some Major Communities
Wetlands
Aquatic systems
Prairies and farmlands
Tropical dry forest in Costa Rica
The Future of Restoration Ecology
Summary
Chapter 11 The Challenges of Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development at the Local Level
Local and regional conservation regulations
Land trusts and related strategies
Enforcement and public benefits
Conservation at the National Level
International Approaches to Sustainable Development
International Earth summits
International agreements that protect habitat
Funding for Conservation
The World Bank and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Environmental trust funds
Debt-for-nature swaps
How effective is conservation funding?
Summary
Chapter 12 An Agenda for the Future
Ongoing Problems and Possible Solutions
The Role of Conservation Biologists
Challenges for conservation biologists
Achieving the agenda
Summary
Appendix: Selected Environmental Organizations and Sources of Information
Glossary
Chapter Opening Photograph Credits
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors
About the Book