Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr. is the Libra Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Maine and the former President of the Society for Conservation Biology.James P. Gibbs is Distinguished Professor of Conservation Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Conservation Scientist at the Galapagos Conservancy.Viorel D. Popescu is Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology at Ohio University, Athens and Research Associate at University of Bucharest’s Center for Environmental Research, Romania.

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• List of Case Studies ixPreface xAcknowledgments xiiiAbout the Companion Website xivPart I Biodiversity and Its Importance 31 Conservation and Conservation Biology 4What is Conservation? 4A Brief History of Conservation 6An Overview of Conservation Ethics 10What is Conservation Biology? 13A Brief History of Conservation Biology 15Summary 192 What is Biodiversity? 21Species, Genes, and Ecosystems 22Structure and Function 23Measuring Biodiversity 24The Mismeasure of Biodiversity 26Biodiversity and Spatial Scales 26Biodiversity Verbs 30The Related Concepts of “Integrity” and “Sustainability” 31Summary 333 Species Diversity 35What is a Species? 35How Many Species Are There? 37The Intrinsic Value of Species and Their Conservation Status 39The Instrumental Values of Species 46The Uniqueness Value of Species 62Summary 654 Ecosystem Diversity 67What is an Ecosystem? 67The Values of Ecosystems 71Ecosystem Diversity and Species Diversity 80Ecosystems and Landscapes 85Summary 885 Genetic Diversity 90What is Genetic Diversity? 90The Importance of Genetic Diversity 101Processes That Diminish Genetic Diversity 110Cultural Diversity 117Summary 124Part II Threats to Biodiversity 1296 Mass Extinctions and Global Change 130Extinction Episodes of the Past 131Estimating the Current Rate of Extinction 135The Recent History of Global Climate Change 139How Did We Get to this Point? What is the Way Ahead? 150Summary 1527 Extinction Processes 154Why Are Some Species More Vulnerable to Extinction than Others? 154Populations 161Population Viability Analysis 166Summary 1778 Ecosystem Degradation and Loss 179Contamination 183Roads, Dams, and Other Structures 189Earth, Fire, Water 195Deforestation 198Desertification 204Draining, Dredging, Damming, Etc. 206Fragmentation 211Summary 2219 Overexploitation 223The Long History of Overexploitation 223Types of Exploitation 230Consequences of Overexploitation 238Some Final Perspectives on Exploitation 243Summary 24910 Invasive Exotics 251How Do Species Move? 252Impacts of Invasive Exotics 261Success Rates 269Irony 271Summary 277Part III Maintaining Biodiversity 27911 Protecting Ecosystems 280Reserve Selection 281Reserve Design 290Reserve Management 299Summary 30712 Sustaining Ecosystems 309Forestry 310Livestock Grazing 316Fisheries 322Ecological Management 325Restoring Ecosystems 325Summary 33713 Managing Populations 338Providing Resources 339Controlling Threats 348Direct Manipulations 364Epilogue 376Summary 37814 Conservation near People 381Cultivated Ecosystems 382Built Ecosystems 391Zoos and Gardens 396The Ex Situ–In Situ Interface 405Conservation of Domesticated Species 410Summary 414Part IV The Human Factors 41915 Social Factors 420Values Differ 420Describing Values 431Values Change 434Summary 44316 Economics 445The Benefits 446The Costs 456The Distribution of Benefits and Costs 459Problems and Solutions 461Summary 48117 Politics and Action 483Setting Priorities for Action 483Rights and Responsibilities 493International Agencies 496Governments 501Nongovernmental Organizations 505Corporations 508Communities 510Individuals 512Summary 517Epilogue 520Glossary 522Literature Cited 536Species Index 631Subject Index 643

Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr. is the Libra Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Maine and the former President of the Society for Conservation Biology.James P. Gibbs is Distinguished Professor of Conservation Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Conservation Scientist at the Galapagos Conservancy.Viorel D. Popescu is Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology at Ohio University, Athens and Research Associate at University of Bucharest’s Center for Environmental Research, Romania.

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• List of Case Studies ixPreface xAcknowledgments xiiiAbout the Companion Website xivPart I Biodiversity and Its Importance 31 Conservation and Conservation Biology 4What is Conservation? 4A Brief History of Conservation 6An Overview of Conservation Ethics 10What is Conservation Biology? 13A Brief History of Conservation Biology 15Summary 192 What is Biodiversity? 21Species, Genes, and Ecosystems 22Structure and Function 23Measuring Biodiversity 24The Mismeasure of Biodiversity 26Biodiversity and Spatial Scales 26Biodiversity Verbs 30The Related Concepts of “Integrity” and “Sustainability” 31Summary 333 Species Diversity 35What is a Species? 35How Many Species Are There? 37The Intrinsic Value of Species and Their Conservation Status 39The Instrumental Values of Species 46The Uniqueness Value of Species 62Summary 654 Ecosystem Diversity 67What is an Ecosystem? 67The Values of Ecosystems 71Ecosystem Diversity and Species Diversity 80Ecosystems and Landscapes 85Summary 885 Genetic Diversity 90What is Genetic Diversity? 90The Importance of Genetic Diversity 101Processes That Diminish Genetic Diversity 110Cultural Diversity 117Summary 124Part II Threats to Biodiversity 1296 Mass Extinctions and Global Change 130Extinction Episodes of the Past 131Estimating the Current Rate of Extinction 135The Recent History of Global Climate Change 139How Did We Get to this Point? What is the Way Ahead? 150Summary 1527 Extinction Processes 154Why Are Some Species More Vulnerable to Extinction than Others? 154Populations 161Population Viability Analysis 166Summary 1778 Ecosystem Degradation and Loss 179Contamination 183Roads, Dams, and Other Structures 189Earth, Fire, Water 195Deforestation 198Desertification 204Draining, Dredging, Damming, Etc. 206Fragmentation 211Summary 2219 Overexploitation 223The Long History of Overexploitation 223Types of Exploitation 230Consequences of Overexploitation 238Some Final Perspectives on Exploitation 243Summary 24910 Invasive Exotics 251How Do Species Move? 252Impacts of Invasive Exotics 261Success Rates 269Irony 271Summary 277Part III Maintaining Biodiversity 27911 Protecting Ecosystems 280Reserve Selection 281Reserve Design 290Reserve Management 299Summary 30712 Sustaining Ecosystems 309Forestry 310Livestock Grazing 316Fisheries 322Ecological Management 325Restoring Ecosystems 325Summary 33713 Managing Populations 338Providing Resources 339Controlling Threats 348Direct Manipulations 364Epilogue 376Summary 37814 Conservation near People 381Cultivated Ecosystems 382Built Ecosystems 391Zoos and Gardens 396The Ex Situ–In Situ Interface 405Conservation of Domesticated Species 410Summary 414Part IV The Human Factors 41915 Social Factors 420Values Differ 420Describing Values 431Values Change 434Summary 44316 Economics 445The Benefits 446The Costs 456The Distribution of Benefits and Costs 459Problems and Solutions 461Summary 48117 Politics and Action 483Setting Priorities for Action 483Rights and Responsibilities 493International Agencies 496Governments 501Nongovernmental Organizations 505Corporations 508Communities 510Individuals 512Summary 517Epilogue 520Glossary 522Literature Cited 536Species Index 631Subject Index 643

Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr. is the Libra Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Maine and the former President of the Society for Conservation Biology.James P. Gibbs is Distinguished Professor of Conservation Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Conservation Scientist at the Galapagos Conservancy.Viorel D. Popescu is Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology at Ohio University, Athens and Research Associate at University of Bucharest’s Center for Environmental Research, Romania.

Select Guide Rating

• List of Case Studies ixPreface xAcknowledgments xiiiAbout the Companion Website xivPart I Biodiversity and Its Importance 31 Conservation and Conservation Biology 4What is Conservation? 4A Brief History of Conservation 6An Overview of Conservation Ethics 10What is Conservation Biology? 13A Brief History of Conservation Biology 15Summary 192 What is Biodiversity? 21Species, Genes, and Ecosystems 22Structure and Function 23Measuring Biodiversity 24The Mismeasure of Biodiversity 26Biodiversity and Spatial Scales 26Biodiversity Verbs 30The Related Concepts of “Integrity” and “Sustainability” 31Summary 333 Species Diversity 35What is a Species? 35How Many Species Are There? 37The Intrinsic Value of Species and Their Conservation Status 39The Instrumental Values of Species 46The Uniqueness Value of Species 62Summary 654 Ecosystem Diversity 67What is an Ecosystem? 67The Values of Ecosystems 71Ecosystem Diversity and Species Diversity 80Ecosystems and Landscapes 85Summary 885 Genetic Diversity 90What is Genetic Diversity? 90The Importance of Genetic Diversity 101Processes That Diminish Genetic Diversity 110Cultural Diversity 117Summary 124Part II Threats to Biodiversity 1296 Mass Extinctions and Global Change 130Extinction Episodes of the Past 131Estimating the Current Rate of Extinction 135The Recent History of Global Climate Change 139How Did We Get to this Point? What is the Way Ahead? 150Summary 1527 Extinction Processes 154Why Are Some Species More Vulnerable to Extinction than Others? 154Populations 161Population Viability Analysis 166Summary 1778 Ecosystem Degradation and Loss 179Contamination 183Roads, Dams, and Other Structures 189Earth, Fire, Water 195Deforestation 198Desertification 204Draining, Dredging, Damming, Etc. 206Fragmentation 211Summary 2219 Overexploitation 223The Long History of Overexploitation 223Types of Exploitation 230Consequences of Overexploitation 238Some Final Perspectives on Exploitation 243Summary 24910 Invasive Exotics 251How Do Species Move? 252Impacts of Invasive Exotics 261Success Rates 269Irony 271Summary 277Part III Maintaining Biodiversity 27911 Protecting Ecosystems 280Reserve Selection 281Reserve Design 290Reserve Management 299Summary 30712 Sustaining Ecosystems 309Forestry 310Livestock Grazing 316Fisheries 322Ecological Management 325Restoring Ecosystems 325Summary 33713 Managing Populations 338Providing Resources 339Controlling Threats 348Direct Manipulations 364Epilogue 376Summary 37814 Conservation near People 381Cultivated Ecosystems 382Built Ecosystems 391Zoos and Gardens 396The Ex Situ–In Situ Interface 405Conservation of Domesticated Species 410Summary 414Part IV The Human Factors 41915 Social Factors 420Values Differ 420Describing Values 431Values Change 434Summary 44316 Economics 445The Benefits 446The Costs 456The Distribution of Benefits and Costs 459Problems and Solutions 461Summary 48117 Politics and Action 483Setting Priorities for Action 483Rights and Responsibilities 493International Agencies 496Governments 501Nongovernmental Organizations 505Corporations 508Communities 510Individuals 512Summary 517Epilogue 520Glossary 522Literature Cited 536Species Index 631Subject Index 643