Description
Book SynopsisThis introductory textbook examines diminishing terrestrial and aquatic habitats in the tropics, covering a broad range of topics including the fate of the coral reefs; the impact of agriculture, urbanization, and logging on habitat depletion; and the effects of fire on plants and animal survival.
Trade Review"This is by far the best introduction to conservation biology in the broadest sense that I have yet encountered." (Biodivers Conserv, 2011)
"It is simply a good, detailed, and up-to-date book that belongs on the shelves of scholars in tropical biology, ecology, conservation biology, and the environmental sciences.” (Ecology, April 2009)
"This is the most up-to-date and informative reference on the wrongs of conservation of biodiversity in the tropics." (Environmental Conservation, December 2008)
Table of ContentsPreface ix
Acknowledgements xii
1 Diminishing Habitats in Regions of High Biodiversity 1
1.1 Loss of native habitats 2
1.2 Drivers of habitat loss 16
1.3 Biodiversity hotspots 27
1.4 Summary 31
1.5 Further reading 32
2 Invaluable Losses 33
2.1 Environmental filters 33
2.2 Precipitation and temperature regulation 37
2.3 Water purification 37
2.4 Protecting catchments and soils 38
2.5 Forests and floods 38
2.6 Nitrogen flux 39
2.7 Eutrophication 40
2.8 Nature’s pharmacy and goods 41
2.9 Human health and nature 41
2.10 Ecosystem services from nature 43
2.11 The direct economic value of nature 47
2.12 The role of nature in human culture 49
2.13 Loss of knowledge 49
2.14 Summary 52
2.15 Further reading 52
3 Broken Homes: Tropical Biotas in Fragmented Landscapes 53
3.1 Theoretical premises of fragmentation 53
3.2 Abiotic and geometric components of fragmentation 56
3.3 Biotic effects of fragmentation 56
3.4 Long-term fate of fragments 62
3.5 Edge effects 63
3.6 Vulnerability to fragmentation 66
3.7 Importance of matrix 69
3.8 Increasing fragment connectivity 69
3.9 Summary 71
3.10 Further reading 71
4 Burning Down the House 72
4.1 Forest fires 72
4.2 Burning savannas 82
4.3 Tropical fires in the global context 85
4.4 Fire modelling and mitigation 86
4.5 Summary 88
4.6 Further reading 88
5 Alien Invaders 89
5.1 What are invasive species? 89
5.2 Invasive species in tropical realms 94
5.3 Managing and controlling invasive species 104
5.4 Summary 110
5.5 Further reading 110
6 Human Uses and Abuses of Tropical Biodiversity 111
6.1 Bush meat crisis 111
6.2 Captivity trade 129
6.3 Medicinal and other uses 133
6.4 Commercial exploitation 137
6.5 Nuisance control 144
6.6 Summary 145
6.7 Further reading 145
7 Threats in Three Dimensions: Tropical Aquatic Conservation 146
7.1 Tropical fisheries exploitation 146
7.2 Coral reefs in peril 155
7.3 Marine reserves 164
7.4 Megafauna 169
7.5 Tropical freshwater ecosystems – water for life 175
7.6 Where marine and freshwater habitats merge: coasts and estuaries 183
7.7 Summary 185
7.8 Further reading 185
8 Climate Change: Feeling the Tropical Heat 187
8.1 Overwhelming evidence for human-mediated climate change 187
8.2 Past evidence for climate change effects on tropical biodiversity 189
8.3 Effects of recent and projected anthropogenic climate change on tropical biotas 190
8.4 Fighting climate change 205
8.5 Summary 206
8.6 Further reading 207
9 Lost Without a Trace: the Tropical Extinction Crisis 208
9.1 Defining ‘extinction’ 208
9.2 Historic extinctions 209
9.3 Extinction rates 209
9.4 Case studies of tropical extinctions 212
9.5 Extinction lags 213
9.6 Extinction drivers 214
9.7 Extinction proneness 219
9.8 Extinction and the perturbation of ecological processes 228
9.9 Biotic resilience 232
9.10 The future of tropical biodiversity 237
9.11 Summary 238
9.12 Further reading 238
10 Lights at the End of the Tunnel: Conservation Options and Challenges 239
10.1 Protected areas are critical for tropical conservation 239
10.2 Poor governance as a threat to tropical biodiversity 249
10.3 Improving logging practices 252
10.4 Livelihoods and conservation 255
10.5 Conservation education and advocacy 256
10.6 Better technologies 260
10.7 Good examples of tropical conservation 260
10.8 Organizations assisting with tropical conservation 261
10.9 Restoration, reintroductions and urban management 262
10.10 Role of sound biological science in tropical conservation 265
10.11 Summary 266
10.12 Further reading 267
References 268
Index 319
