Conservation and Evolution - Softcover

Frankel, Otto

Softcover

ISBN 10: 052129889X ISBN 13: 9780521298896

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1981

Synopsis

For the first time a book has been written which successfully combines genetic principles with nature conservation and attempts to predict long-term genetic and evolutionary problems. Frankel and Soule start from the view that it is better for an organism to continue to exist than to become extinct. Conservation concerns itself more with extinction than survival, yet evolution balances extinction with a continuing process of survival adaptation and speciation. They identify the central issue as the growing threat to evolutionary processes by the increasing rate of extinction. To illustrate this central theme (Chapter 1) the authors concentrate on the threat to rare species whose effective population sizes are small; 'the genetics of nature conservation is the genetics of scarcity'. In the next 3 chapters they review the factors contributing to extinction, population genetics and evolutionary genetics. They then deal with the man-contrived remedies — nature reserves, captive propagation and genetic management, and botanical gardens. Chapter 8 details the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and the following chapter reviews methods used in the conservation of plants which may have potential uses. The final chapter considers the conservation of livestock genetic resources. This book should be obligatory reading for all personnel in national and international conservation organizations and agencies. It should be part of the training course for all national planners. A unique publication. IAN SWINGLAND

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1981
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 052129889X
• ISBN 13: 9780521298896
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 366