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University of California Press

About the Book

This pioneering encyclopedia illuminates a topic at the forefront of global ecology—biological invasions, or organisms that come to live in the wrong place. Written by leading scientists from around the world, Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions addresses all aspects of this subject at a global level—including invasions by animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria—in succinct, alphabetically arranged articles. Scientifically uncompromising, yet clearly written and free of jargon, the volume encompasses fields of study including biology, demography, geography, ecology, evolution, sociology, and natural history. Featuring many cross-references, suggestions for further reading, illustrations, an appendix of the world’s worst 100 invasive species, a glossary, and more, this is an essential reference for anyone who needs up-to-date information on this important topic.

Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions features articles on:

• Well-known invasive species such the zebra mussel, chestnut blight, cheatgrass, gypsy moth, Nile perch, giant African snail, and Norway rat

• Regions with especially large numbers of introduced species including the Great Lakes, Mediterranean Sea, Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Conservation, ecological, economic, and human and animal health impacts of invasions around the world

• The processes and pathways involved in invasion

• Management of introduced species

About the Author

Daniel Simberloff is Nancy Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Studies in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His previous books include Ecological Communities: Conceptual Issues and the Evidence and Strangers in Paradise: Impact and Management of Nonindigenous Species in Florida. Marcel Rejmánek is Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis. Among other books and publications he coedited Plant Invasions: General Aspects and Special Problems and Biological Invasions: A Global Perspective.

Reviews

“A work that keeps its feet firmly planted in the realm of fact. A sumptuous tome of considerable worth. This work is highly recommended for any academic library supporting the biological or ecological sciences, or indeed any public library seeking to ?esh out its collections on a most fascinating topic that affects us all in an accessible and engaging way.”
Emerald
“With its wealth of information, the encyclopaedia presents a complete introduction to the field of invasion biology. . . . a good investment for every ecologist.”
Basic & Applied Ecology
“Simberloff and Rejmanek’s Encyclopedia gets high scores for access and userfriendliness . . . Attractive photos, supportive tables, and illustrative figures complete the helpful presentation.”
Bioscience
“A good reference for for anyone who needs a quick reference to a lot of topics.”
Cal-Ipc News
“Gets high scores for access and user-friendliness.”
Bioscience
“Simberloff and Rejmanek masterfully execute a balance of the general with the specific, the foundation with the popular, the new with the old. . . . High scores for access and user-friendliness. . . . At the threshold of a paradigm shift in viewpoint and in strategy toward the worldwide issue of invasion ecology.”
Bioscience
"This work will be of great value in ecology and conservation science. Invasive species are a severe and exponentially growing problem of the environment, and one difficult even to characterize, much less contain."—Edward O. Wilson, author and scientist

"Second only to habitat loss mixed with climate disruption, invasive species represent the next most serious threat to biodiversity. The Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions, written by an impressive group of experts, now makes available to conservation biologists, managers, decision makers, and concerned citizens a comprehensive single source of this key topic."—Paul R. Ehrlich, co-author of The Dominant Animal

"This magnificent collection of well-selected essays will immediately become a standard guide to understanding one of the key biological problems of our times. With contributions from virtually every active participant, and thus collectively telling the story of biological invasion well; such invasions pose severe threats to the survival of biological diversity and are a complicating factor in virtually every human activity based on maintaining or managing the functioning of biological systems. This book belongs in every biological library and will be an asset to many individuals in their work, whether fundamental science or the many practical applications associated with invasion, its management and control."—Peter H. Raven, President, Missouri Botanical Garden

"This volume brings an extraordinarily useful and authoritative compilation of our current knowledge on biological invasions. The invasion biology research area is undergoing explosive development and thus this encyclopedia is timely, bringing a single source of information, by leading experts, in a well-organized, beautifully illustrated, and thoughtfully produced format. No doubt this work will stimulate further progress, and integration, in this critical but complex research area."—Harold Mooney, Stanford University

Awards

  • PROSE AWARD 2012, Association of American Publishers, Inc.