Biotic Homogenization

by Julie L. Lockwood (Editor), Michael L. McKinney (Editor)

Overview

Biological homogenization is the dominant process shaping the future global biosphere. As global transportation becomes faster and more frequent, it is inevitable that biotic intermixing will increase. Unique local biotas will become extinct only to be replaced by already widespread biotas that can tolerate human activities. This process is affecting all aspects of our world: language, economies, and ecosystems alike. The ultimate outcome is the loss of uniqueness and the growth of uniformity. In this way, fast food restaurants exist in Moscow and Java Sparrows breed on Hawaii.
Biological homogenization qualifies as a global environmental catastrophe. The Earth has never witnessed such a broad and complete reorganization of species distributions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461354673
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	10/17/2012
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2001
Pages:	289
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

1. Biotic Homogenization: A Sequential and Selective Process.- 2. Biotic Homogenization: Lessons from the Past.- 3. Birds and Butterflies Along Urban Gradients in Two Ecoregions of the United States: Is Urbanization Creating a Homogeneous Fauna?.- 4. Rarity and Phylogeny in Birds.- 5. Hybridization between Native and Alien Plants and Its Consequences.- 6. Taxonomic Selectivity in Surviving Introduced Insects in the United States.- 7. Are Unsuccessful Avian Invaders Rarer in Their Native Range Than Successful Invaders?.- 8. A Geographical Perspective on the Biotic Homogenization Process: Implications from the Macroecology of North American Birds.- 9. Global Warming, Temperature Homogenization and Species Extinction.- 10. The History and Ecological Basis of Extinction and Speciation in Birds.- 11. Downsizing Nature: Anthropogenic Dwarfing of Species and Ecosystems.- 12. Spatial Homogenization of the Aquatic Fauna of Tennessee: Extinction and Invasion Following Land Use Change and Habitat Alteration.- 13. Homogenization of California’s Fish Fauna Through Abiotic Change.- Contributors.

Editorial Reviews

‘Biotic Homogenization is a useful and interesting compilation. Certainly it belongs in the stacks of any library aiming to have a good natural sciences collection, and it might serve well as a textbook for courses addressing issues of biodiversity or species invasion in an in-depth fashion. Each chapter's commendable list of references cited will no doubt make life easier for a number of graduate students in the coming years, and the peer-review quality of each author's contribution makes the book a notable reference work, one which can serve as a primary source in its own right.'
Rich Haydon, Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth Ranger Districts, US Forest Service in Natural Areas Journal, 22:3
‘Overall, the book addresses a very important and increasing problem and provides some very useful evidence to guide further work. I would certainly recommend it to anyone working in the field of conservation biology.'
Andrew Pullin, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, UK in Biological Conservation, 103

From the Publisher