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Alien Species and Evolution: The Evolutionary Ecology of Exotic Plants, Animals, Microbes, and Interacting Native Species
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Cox as mentioned in this paper discusses the evolutionary potential of alien species and argues that although ecosystems might be restored through control measures, evolutionary adaptation is usually irreversible and sustainable means are needed to prevent invasion in the first place if native species are to be preserved.Abstract:
Review: Alien Species and Evolution: The Evolutionary Ecology of Exotic Plants, Animals, Microbes and Interacting Native Species By G.W.Cox Reviewed by Nana Nehrbass Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany George W. Cox. Alien Species and Evolution: The Evolutionary Ecology of Exotic Plants, Animals, Microbes, and Interacting Native Species. Washington D.C.: Island Press, 2004. 377 pp. ISBN: 1-55963-009-4. US$ 75 (paperback). Recycled, acid-free paper. Alien Species and Evolution leads the reader toward an eye penning recognition of the evolutionary potential of alien species. In his extensive work, Cox illustrates that evolution is not just a theoretical controversy about the history of life on earth, but is also occurring here and now. The book starts off with a substantial discussion about invasions and provides the reader with insights on the techniques of genetic analyses. Equipped with this sound background it is easy even for nonspecialists to follow the argumentation in each chapter. The author leads the reader through all aspects of alien invasions, pointing out the significance of evolutionary adaptation in each instance. He raises awareness of the fact that many invasions are sped up and facilitated by human activities; that is, “accelerated evolution” takes place. The book stresses that although ecosystems might be restored through control measures, evolutionary adaptation is usually irreversible. Hence, sustainable means are needed to prevent invasion in the first place if native species are to be preserved. Finally, even the often-neglected subject of the introduction of transgenic organisms and its consequences is treated in detail. The well-chosen examples vividly illustrate the economic and ecological impact of alien invasive species, covering all taxonomic groups from fungi to mammals. Cox is able to show both sides of the story by demonstrating changes in invaders as well as in native organisms and communities. Although the order of the sections, especially in the introductory part, does not follow a clear structure, the work does not lose its readability. Each part of the book has a summarizing introduction and a short bridging passage, leading the argumentation to the next chapter. The book is written in a comprehensive manner, making it easy to read in only a few hours. After the first perusal, the extensive index makes it a valuable reference book for invasion biologists and interested laypersons. Nana Nehrbass , UFZ- Centre for environmentalread more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Biological invasions: recommendations for U.S. policy and management.
David M. Lodge,Susan L. Williams,Hugh J. MacIsaac,Keith R. Hayes,Brian Leung,Sarah H. Reichard,Richard N. Mack,Peter B. Moyle,Maggie Smith,David A. Andow,James T. Carlton,Anthony J. McMichael +11 more
TL;DR: The Ecological Society of America recommends that the federal government take the following six actions: use new information and practices to better manage commercial and other pathways to reduce the transport and release of potentially harmful species, and establish a National Center for Invasive Species Management.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ecological and evolutionary insights from species invasions
Dov F. Sax,John J. Stachowicz,James H. Brown,John F. Bruno,Michael N Dawson,Steven D. Gaines,Richard K. Grosberg,Alan Hastings,Robert D. Holt,Margaret M. Mayfield,Mary I. O'Connor,William R. Rice +11 more
TL;DR: How the study of invasions can help to inform the understanding of applied problems, such as extinction, ecosystem function and the response of species to climate change is emphasized.
Journal ArticleDOI
Are we now living in the Anthropocene
Jan Zalasiewicz,Mark Williams,Alan Smith,Tiffany L. Barry,Angela L. Coe,Paul R. Bown,Patrick J. Brenchley,David J. Cantrill,Andrew S. Gale,Philip L. Gibbard,F. John Gregory,Mark W. Hounslow,Andrew C. Kerr,Paul Nicholas Pearson,Robert Knox,John H. Powell,Colin N. Waters,John E. A. Marshall,Michael Oates,Peter F. Rawson,Philip Stone +20 more
TL;DR: The term Anthropocene has been proposed and increasingly employed to denote the current interval of anthropogenic global environmental change as mentioned in this paper, which is considered as a formal epoch in that, since the start of the Industrial Revolution, Earth has endured changes sufficient to leave a global stratigraphic signature distinct from that of the Holocene or of previous Pleistocene interglacial phases, encompassing novel biotic, sedimentary and geochemical change.
Journal ArticleDOI
Are invaders different? A conceptual framework of comparative approaches for assessing determinants of invasiveness.
Mark van Kleunen,Wayne Dawson,Daniel R. Schlaepfer,Daniel R. Schlaepfer,Jonathan M. Jeschke,Jonathan M. Jeschke,Markus Fischer +6 more
TL;DR: A framework of the various comparisons that can be used to test for determinants of invasiveness, and the specific questions each comparison can address are presented, and how different comparisons complement each other, and therefore should be used in concert.
Journal ArticleDOI
Usefulness of Bioclimatic Models for Studying Climate Change and Invasive Species
TL;DR: Their ability to forecast the effects of climate change or the spread of invaders has rarely been tested adequately, however, and researchers are urged to tie the evaluation of bioclimatic models more closely to their intended uses.
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Biological invasions: recommendations for U.S. policy and management.
David M. Lodge,Susan L. Williams,Hugh J. MacIsaac,Keith R. Hayes,Brian Leung,Sarah H. Reichard,Richard N. Mack,Peter B. Moyle,Maggie Smith,David A. Andow,James T. Carlton,Anthony J. McMichael +11 more
TL;DR: The Ecological Society of America recommends that the federal government take the following six actions: use new information and practices to better manage commercial and other pathways to reduce the transport and release of potentially harmful species, and establish a National Center for Invasive Species Management.
Journal ArticleDOI
Are we now living in the Anthropocene
Jan Zalasiewicz,Mark Williams,Alan Smith,Tiffany L. Barry,Angela L. Coe,Paul R. Bown,Patrick J. Brenchley,David J. Cantrill,Andrew S. Gale,Philip L. Gibbard,F. John Gregory,Mark W. Hounslow,Andrew C. Kerr,Paul Nicholas Pearson,Robert Knox,John H. Powell,Colin N. Waters,John E. A. Marshall,Michael Oates,Peter F. Rawson,Philip Stone +20 more
TL;DR: The term Anthropocene has been proposed and increasingly employed to denote the current interval of anthropogenic global environmental change as mentioned in this paper, which is considered as a formal epoch in that, since the start of the Industrial Revolution, Earth has endured changes sufficient to leave a global stratigraphic signature distinct from that of the Holocene or of previous Pleistocene interglacial phases, encompassing novel biotic, sedimentary and geochemical change.
Journal ArticleDOI
Are invaders different? A conceptual framework of comparative approaches for assessing determinants of invasiveness.
Mark van Kleunen,Wayne Dawson,Daniel R. Schlaepfer,Daniel R. Schlaepfer,Jonathan M. Jeschke,Jonathan M. Jeschke,Markus Fischer +6 more
TL;DR: A framework of the various comparisons that can be used to test for determinants of invasiveness, and the specific questions each comparison can address are presented, and how different comparisons complement each other, and therefore should be used in concert.
Journal ArticleDOI
Usefulness of Bioclimatic Models for Studying Climate Change and Invasive Species
TL;DR: Their ability to forecast the effects of climate change or the spread of invaders has rarely been tested adequately, however, and researchers are urged to tie the evaluation of bioclimatic models more closely to their intended uses.
Journal ArticleDOI
The devil is in the details: genetic variation in introduced populations and its contributions to invasion.
Katrina M. Dlugosch,Samantha R. Anderson,Joseph E. Braasch,F. Alice Cang,Heather D. Gillette +4 more
TL;DR: It is argued that the potential for adaptation to facilitate invasion will be shaped by the details of genotypes affecting phenotypes, and there is a significant disconnect between marker assays and ecologically relevant genetic variation in introductions.