Fundamentals of Biogeography

by Richard Huggett

Fundamentals of Biogeography presents an accessible, engaging and comprehensive introduction to biogeography, explaining the ecology, geography, history and conservation of animals and plants. Starting with an outline of how species arise, disperse, diversify and become extinct, the book how environmental factors (climate, substrate, topography, and disturbance) influence animals and plants; investigates how populations grow, interact and survive; how communities form and change; and explores the connections between biogeography and conservation.

The second edition has been extensively revised and expanded throughout to cover new topics and revisit themes from the first edition in more depth. Illustrated throughout with informative diagrams and attractive photos and including guides to further reading, chapter summaries and an extensive glossary of key terms, Fundamentals of Biogeography clearly explains key concepts in the history, geography and ecology of life systems. In doing so, it tackles some of the most topical and controversial environmental and ethical concerns including species over-exploitation, the impacts of global warming, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss and ecosystem restoration.

Genres: Geography

456 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 1998

About the author

Richard Huggett is a retired university lecturer and huge fan of science fact, fantasy, and fiction. He lives in Cheshire and spends most of his time writing. And directing amateur musicals and concerts. And drinking coffee. He has written about twenty academic books. The Multiversal Chronicles is his first venture into fiction, going boldly where he has never gone before.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather odd mash up of concepts you will find in a standard text on ecology such as populations, communities, ecosystems, energy and chemical cycles etc. with a bit of bioethics thrown in at the end. The detailed case studies were Eurocentric (mainly British), I suppose expected from a British author, but in any case less interesting for me. Actual content on biogeography itself fills less than half of the book. One could do better with a book like 'The Monkey's Voyage', which covers the history of the discipline and the latest debates and controversies in great detail.