Fundamentals of conservation biology / Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., James P. Gibbs.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [405]-475) and indexes.

Part I. Biodiversity and Its Importance -- 1. Conservation and Conservation Biology -- What Is Conservation? -- A Brief History of Conservation -- An Overview of Conservation Ethics -- What Is Conservation Biology? -- A Brief History of a Young Discipline -- 2. What Is Biodiversity? -- Species, Genes, and Ecosystems -- Structure and Function -- Measuring Biodiversity -- The Mismeasure of Biodiversity -- Biodiversity and Spatial Scales -- Biodiversity Verbs -- The Related Concepts of "Integrity" and "Sustainability" -- 3. Species Diversity -- What Is a Species? -- How Many Species Are There? -- The Intrinsic Value of Species and Their Conservation Status -- The Instrumental Values of Species -- The Uniqueness Value of Species -- 4. Ecosystem Diversity -- What Is an Ecosystem? -- The Values of Ecosystems -- Ecosystem Diversity and Species Diversity -- Ecosystems and Landscapes -- 5. Genetic Diversity -- What Is Genetic Diversity? -- The Importance of Genetic Diversity -- Processes that Diminish Genetic Diversity -- Cultural Diversity -- Part II. Threats to Biodiversity -- 6. Mass Extinctions and Global Change -- Extinction Episodes of the Past -- Estimating the Current Rate of Extinction -- The Prospect of Global Climate Change -- 7. Extinction Processes -- Why Are Some Species More Vulnerable to Extinction than Others? -- Populations -- Population Viability Analysis -- 8. Ecosystem Degradation and Loss -- Contamination -- Roads, Dams, and Other Structures -- Earth, Fire, Water -- Deforestation -- Desertification -- Draining, Dredging, Damming, etc. -- Fragmentation -- 9. Overexploitation -- The Long History of Overexploitation -- Types of Exploitation -- Consequences of Overexploitation -- Some Final Perspectives on Exploitation -- 10. Invasive Exotics -- How Do Species Move? -- Impacts of Invasive Exotics -- Success Rates -- Irony -- Part III. Maintaining Biodiversity -- 11. Protecting Ecosystems -- Reserve Selection -- Reserve Design -- Reserve Management -- 12. Managing Ecosystems -- Modified Ecosystems -- Cultivated Ecosystems -- Built Ecosystems -- Restoring Ecosystems -- 13. Managing Populations -- Providing Resources -- Controlling Threats -- Direct Manipulations -- 14. Zoos and Gardens -- Changing Roles -- Building Arks -- The ex Situ-in Situ Interface -- Conservation of Domesticated Species -- Part IV. The Human Factors -- 15. Social Factors -- Values Differ -- Describing Values -- Values Change -- 16. Economics -- The Benefits -- The Costs -- The Distribution of Benefits and Costs -- Problems and Solutions -- 17. Politics and Action -- Setting Priorities for Action -- Rights and Responsibilities -- International Agencies -- Governments -- Nongovernmental Organizations -- Corporations -- Communities -- Individuals -- Species Index.

"The conservation of biodiversity is one of the most important issues facing the world today. In the new edition of this highly successful book, Malcolm Hunter and new coauthor James Gibbs offer a thorough introducing to the fascinating and important field of conservation biology, focusing on what can be done to maintain biodiversity through management of ecosystems and populations." "Starting with a succinct look at conservation and biodiversity, this book goes on to contend with some of the subject's most complex topics, such as mass extinctions, ecosystem degradation, and over exploitation. Discussions of the social, political, and economic aspects of conservation biology issues are both interwoven throughout the text and addressed independently in their own chapters. This new edition has been thoroughly revised with more that 750 new references, web links to many of the organizations involved in conservation biology, and striking full-color figures, photographs, and maps. Hunter and Gibbs have created a context in which the principles of conservation biology can be readily understood and applied to managing real world populations and ecosystems. Artwork from the book is available to instructors at www.blackwellpublishing.com/hunter. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of contents also issued online.