Plant microevolution and conservation in human-influenced ecosystems / David Briggs.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Briggs, D. (David), 1936-

Contributor:

Rudolph G. Schmieder Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plants--Evolution.

Plants.

Nature--Effect of human beings on.

Nature.

Plant conservation.

Endangered plants.

Physical Description:

xix, 598 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, [2009]

Summary:

"As human activities are increasingly domesticating the Earth's ecosystems, new selection pressures are acting to produce winners and losers amongst our wildlife. With particular emphasis on plants, Briggs examines the implications of human influences on micro-evolutionary processes in different groups of organisms, including wild, weedy, invasive, feral, and endangered species. Using case studies from around the world, he argues that Darwinian evolution is ongoing. He considers how far it is possible to conserve endangered species and threatened ecosystems through management, and questions the extent to which damaged landscapes and their plant and animal communities can be precisely recreated or restored. Many of Darwin's ideas are highlighted, including his insights into natural selection, speciation, the vulnerability of rare organisms, the impact of invasive species, and the effects of climate change on organisms. An important text for students and researchers of evolution, conservation, climate change and sustainable use of resources." --NHBS Environment Bookstore.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rudolph G. Schmieder Fund.

ISBN:

9780521818353

0521818354

9780521521543

0521521548

OCLC:

426065756

Publisher Number:

99942311249

Online:

Publisher description

Contributor biographical information