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Through nine successful editions, and for over 45 years, Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach has provided a thorough and comprehensive exploration of the varied scientific disciplines and research that are essential to understanding the subject. The text, noted for its clear and engaging style of writing, has been praised for its solid background in historical biogeography and basic biology, that is enhanced and illuminated by discussions of current research.
This new edition incorporates the exciting changes of the recent years and presents a thoughtful exploration of the research and controversies that have transformed our understanding of the biogeography of the world. New themes and topics in this tenth edition include:
- Next generation genetic technologies and their use in historical biogeography, phylogeography and population genomics
- Biogeographical databases and biodiversity information systems, which are becoming increasingly important for biogeographical research
- An introduction to functional biogeography and its applications to community assembly, diversity gradients and the analysis of ecosystem functioning
- Updated case studies focusing on island biogeography, using the latest phylogenetic studies
Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach reveals how the patterns of life that we see today have been created by the two great Engines of the Planet: the Geological Engine, plate tectonics, which alters the conditions of life on the planet, and the Biological Engine, evolution, which responds to these changes by creating new forms and patterns of life.
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xv
1 Introduction 1
Section I: The Challenge of Existing 37
2 Patterns of Distribution: Finding a Home 39
3 Communities and Ecosystems: Living Together 97
Section II: The Engines of The Planet 157
4 Patterns of Biodiversity 127
5 Plate Tectonics 159
Section III: Islands and Oceans 197
6 Evolution, the Source of Novelty 179
7 Life, Death and Evolution on Islands 199
Section IV: Historical Biogeography 269
8 Patterns in the Oceans 235
9 From Evolution to Patterns of Life 271
10 Geography, Life and Climates Through Time 299
11 Patterns of Life Today 327
Section V: People and Problems 409
12 The Arrival of the Ice Ages 367
13 The Human Intrusion 411
14 Conservation Biogeography
Glossary 471
Index 481
Colour plates between pages 240 and 241
C. Barry Cox was formerly Head of Biological Sciences, King's College, London, UK.
Richard J. Ladle is Titular Professor of Conservation Biogeography at the Federal University of Alagoas on the north-east coast of Brazil. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the School of Geography in Oxford University, as well as the director of Tamandua Environmental Consultants.
Peter D. Moore is Emeritus Reader in Ecology at King's College London. He has written extensively on ecology and global environmental change and was, for 35 years, Ecology Correspondent for the journal Nature.
