Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications

Description:
Fred Van Dyke's new textbook, Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications, 2nd Edition, represents a major new text for anyone interested in conservation. Drawing on his vast experience, Van Dyke's organizational clarity and readable style make this book an invaluable resource for students in conservation around the globe. Presenting key information and well-selected examples, this student-friendly volume carefully integrates the science of conservation biology with its implications for ethics, law, policy and economics.

Review:
From the reviews of the second edition: 'This book ! give a unified approach to an interdisciplinary subject, discussing the historical, ethical, economical, and ecological basis of conservation biology. ! The overall mission of the textbook to provide undergraduates with a stimulating and accessible text is executed with great success. ! it finds a wide readership and is present in libraries of colleges and research institutes.' (Mark Young, British Ecological Society, Vol. 39 (4), 2008)

Table of Contents:
1. The History and Distinctions of Conservation Biology. 1.1 Perspectives and Questions for an Inquiry into Conservation Biology. 1.2 The Origins of Conservation. 1.2.1 Conservation in Historical Context. 1.2.2 Cultural Foundations of Conservation. 1.2.3 Conservation as Expression of Privilege. 1.2.4 Conservation as Right Relationship with Nature - The Arcadian Vision. 1.2.5 Conservation as Knowledge -- The Invitation to Study and Appreciate Nature. 1.2.6 Conservation to Save Species -- Origins of the First Conservation Organizations. 1.2.7 Conservation as Preservation of Landscape -- The Washburn Expedition Goes to Yellowstone. 1.3 Intellectual Foundations and History of Conservation in the United States. 1.3.1 Conservation as Moral Mission -- John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt. 1.3.2 'Scientific Conservation' through Sustained Yield --Moral Mission Gives Way to Utilitarian Purpose. 1.3.2.1 The Federal Government Empowers Conservation as Science and Democratic Ideal. 1.3.2.2 German Influences in Conservation -- Forest. Monocultures and Maximum Yields. 1.3.2.3 The Rise of the Resource Conservation Ethic. 1.3.2.4 Aldo Leopold and the Formation of the 'Wilderness Ideal' in Conservation. 1.4. The Emergence of Global Conservation -- Shared Interests Lead to Cooperation. 1.4.1 Multilateral Treaties -- The Beginnings of International Conservation Efforts. 1.4.1.1 Conservation Driven by Shared Commercial Interests. 1.4.1.2 International Protection of Migratory Species. 1.4.2 Forums for International Conservation -- the United Nations and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 1.5 Conservation in the Developing World: New Expressions of Resource Management, National Parks and Nature Preserves. 1.6 Return to Start: What Is the Place of Conservation Biology in the World Conservation Effort? 1.6.1 The Emergence of Conservation Biology from the Applied Sciences. 1.6.2 Conceptually Distinctive Characteristics of Conservation Biology. 1.7 Synthesis.- 2. Values and Ethics in Conservation. 2.1 What Does Science Have to Do with Value? 2.1.1 Avoiding the Absurd -- Being Self-Aware of Values in Conservation Decisions. 2.1.2 Recognizing Management Actions as Value Judgements. 2.1.3 Values and Ethics -- Definitions and Initial Assessments. 2.2 The Problem of Categories: How Do We Classify Different Kinds of Conservation Values? 2.2.1 An Overview of Value Categories. 2.2.2 Instrumental Values. 2.2.2.1 General Considerations. 2.2.2.2 Determining Attitudes with Sociological Surveys. 2.2.2.3 Tools of Economic Valuation: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Safe. Minimum Standard Criteria, and Contingency Valuation Analysis. 2.2.2.4 Contingent Valuation Analysis. 2.2.2.4.1 Willingness to Pay. 2.2.2.4.2. Willingness to Accept Compensation. 2.2.2.5 Criticisms of Contingent Valuation Analysis. 2.3 The Problem of Moral Value: Assigning Intrinsic Values in Conservation. 2.3.1 Where Does Intrinsic Value Reside? 2.3.2 Ecocentrism as a Basis for the Intrinsic Value. 2.3.3 Intrinsic Value in the Judeo-Christian Tradition. 2.3.4 Other Western Religious Traditions - Islam. 2.3.5 Eastern Religious Traditions and Conservation -- Hinduism and Buddhism. 2.3.5.1. Hinduism. 2.3.5.2 Buddhism. 2.3.6 Practical Implications -- Faith-based Organizations in Conservation. 2.3.6.1 'Goal Rational' Versus 'Value Rational' Conservation. 2.3.6.2 Jewish and Christian FBOs. 2.3.6.3 FBOs in Islam. 2.3.6.4. Conservation Activism in Hinduism. 2.3.6.5. Conservation FBOs in Buddhism. 2.3.6.6 Future Roles and Contributions of FBOs in Global Conservation. 2.4 The Problem of Practice: Do Conservation Values Require Conservation Virtues? 2.4.1 The Problem of Plastic Trees. 2.4.2 From Values to Virtues: Virtue-based Ethics in Conservation. 2.4.3 What Are Appropriate Conservation Virtues? 2.5 Orphaned Orangutans -- Ethical Applications in Conservation. 2.6 Synthesis.- 3. The Legal Foundations of Conservation Biology. 3.1. Conservation Law and Policy. 3.1.1 Context and Definition. 3.1.2 Historical Origins of Conservation Law. 3.2 Environmental and Conservation Law in Individual Nations: Modern Examples from the United States, South Africa, and Australia. 3.2.1 General Considerations. 3.2.2 Common Characteristics of Effective National Conservation Law. 3.2.3. The U. S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 3.2.3.1 NEPA's History and Content. 3.2.3.2 NEPA and U.S. Federal Lands. 3.2.3.3 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. 3.3.3.4 Shortcomings of the National Environmental Policy Act. 3.2.4 The U.S. Endangered Species Act . 3.2.4.1 Historical Origins and Content. 3.2.4.2 The Endangered Species Act and Landowner Conflicts: The Case of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. 3.2.4.3 San Bruno Mountain and the Evolution of Habitat Conservation Planning. 3.2.4.4 Criticisms of the Endangered Species Act. 3.2.5 Water as an Inalienable Reserve -- South Africa and Australia Establish Radical Categories for Conservation Law. 3.3 International Conservation Law: Concept and Development. 3.3.1 General Considerations. 3.3.2 A Forum for Cooperation and Legal Foundation -- the United Nations and its Environmental Programmes. 3.3.2.1 Background and Context. 3.3.2.2 Stockholm: The Beginnings of Modern International Conservation Law. 3.3.2.3 Protection of Endangered Species: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 3.3.2.4 Rio 1992 -- Combining Conservation and Economics in International Agreements. 3.4 The Process: Creating and Enforcing International Conservation Law. 3.5 The Problem of Interdependence: How Does One Nation Promote Global Conservation without Negative Effects on Other Nations? 3.5.1 The Nature of International Legal Interdependence. 3.5.2 Case History I: Tuna and Dolphins. 3.5.3 Case History II: Shrimp and Sea Turtles. 3.5.4 Outcomes and Future Prospects. 3.6 Synthesis.- 4. Biodiversity: Concept, Measurement, and Challenge. 4.1. Biodiversity and conservation biology. 4.2 The Problem of Concept and Quantity: How Do We Know What Biodiversity Is and How Do We Measure It? 4.2.1 Conceptual Definition of Biodiversity. 4.2.2 Biodiversity and the Definition of Species. 4.2.3 Contemporary Issues of the Species Concept. 4.2.4. Implications of the Species Concept in Conservation. 4.2.5. Measuring Biodiversity. 4.2.5.1 What Biodiversity Measurements Tell Us. 4.2.5.2 Alpha diversity. 4.2.5.3 Beta diversity. 4.2.5.4 Gamma diversity. 4.2.6 Application and Integration of Diversity Measures to Address Issues in Conservation: A Case Study from Eastern Amazonia. 4.2.7. Problems of Diversity Indices and Alternative Measures. 4.3 The Problem of Process and Pattern: What Explains Variation in Local Biodiversity? 4.3.1 Niche Assembly Theories of Biodiversity. 4.3.2 The Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity. 4.4 The Problem of Dispersion: Where Is Biodiversity Located? 4.4.1 Global Patterns of Biodiversity. 4.4.2 Measures of Biodiversity: How Can We Identify 'Hotspots' with Incomplete Information? 4.5. The Problem of Quantity: How Much Biodiversity Is There? 4.5.1 General Considerations. 4.5.2 Biodiversity and Rarity. 4.5.2.1 The Problem of Rarity. 4.5.2.2 Habitat Generalists Versus Habitat Specialists. 4.5.2.3 Large Populations Versus Small Populations. 4.5.2.4 Widespread Distribution Versus Restricted Distribution. 4.5.3 The Problem of Endemism. 4.5.3.1 Endemism in the Extreme - A Case History. 4.5.2.2 Endemism, Biodiversity, and Rarity. 4.5.3.3. Endemism and Island Species. 4.6 The Problem of Application: How Do We Preserve and Manage Biodiversity? 4.6.1 The Problem with 'Hotspots'. 4.6.2 Identifying Areas of Conservation Value Using Remotely Sensed Data. 4.6.3 Tracking Biodiversity Using Indicator Species. 4.6.3.1 Biodiversity indicators: using 'surrogate' species as biodiversity indices. 4.6.3.2 Taxon-based biodiversity indicators. 4.6.3.3 Structure- and function-based biodiversity indicators. 4.6.3.4 Bison as an example of a function-based keystone species. 4.6.3.5 Ecological redundancy and function-based biodiversity indicators. 4.7 The Problem of Conservation: How Do We Identify and Prioritize Areas to Preserve Biodiversity? 4.7.1 Current Global Prioritization Strategies. 4.7.2 Management Approaches to Biodiversity at Landscape Levels. 4.7.2.1 Gathering Appropriate Background Data. 4.7.2.2 Maintaining Ecological and Evolutionary Processes Promoting Biodiversity. 4.7.2.3 Regional Biodiversity Management -- Defining Functional Conservation Areas. 4.7.3 Building Biodiversity Conservation into Existing Management Plans -- The New South Wales Environmental Services Scheme. 4.8 Synthesis.- 5. Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change. 5.1 Climate and Climate Change. 5.1.1 Why Does Climate Change Threaten Biodiversity? 5.1.2 What is 'Climate' and What is 'Climate Change'? 5.1.3 Should Contemporary Global Warming Be Called 'Climate Change?' 5.1.4 The Implications of Rapidly