As predicted by Charles Elton in 1958, today invasive species have come to dominate 3% of the Earth's ice-free surface, constituting one of the most serious ecological and economic threats of the new millennium. In spite of any prevention effort, the number of invasive species is expected to increase in the next years as an inevitable consequence of both the augmented complexity of international trade and the deregulation of national and international markets. New pathways have been opened and the movement of non-indigenous species along them has been facilitated.
The book examines the identity, distribution, and impact of freshwater non-indigenous species and the dynamics of their invasion. Rather than providing a broad and comprehensive review of the issue, Biological invaders in inland waters focuses on old and new invaders and also raises questions and opens perspectives that provide a starting point for further research. The ultimate purpose of this book is to help define a more general framework for our knowledge of invasions in fresh waters. Such a framework will be indispensable to the planning of a science-based management program.
The book examines the identity, distribution, and impact of freshwater non-indigenous species and the dynamics of their invasion. Rather than providing a broad and comprehensive review of the issue, Biological invaders in inland waters focuses on old and new invaders and also raises questions and opens perspectives that provide a starting point for further research. The ultimate purpose of this book is to help define a more general framework for our knowledge of invasions in fresh waters. Such a framework will be indispensable to the planning of a science-based management program.
Aus den Rezensionen: "... Für den hier besprochenen Band ... haben sich 82 Wissenschaftler mit der Verteilung und den Profilen der Invasoren, den Mustern und Eindringungsereignissen, den Folgen und dem daraus resultierenden Management beschäftigt. ... es gibt kaum eine Organismengruppe, die nicht erwähnt wird, und es gibt kaum ein Kapitel, das nicht neue Fragen aufwirft. Francesca Gherardi zeigt auf, dass es für Wissenschaftler und Behörden in Zukunft noch viel zu tun gibt, da die ökologischen und wirtschaftlichen Schäden immer deutlicher bemessen werden können ..." (Ralph Schill, in: Laborjournal, 2008, Issue 3, S. 86)
From the reviews:
"This second volume ... focuses on non-indigenous freshwater species. The book includes 39 chapters ... by 82 contributors from 18 countries. ... I do like the book and can recommend it. It is well written throughout ... . References are provided separately for each chapter ... which is very useful when photocopying a chapter. The book's index is very useful, too ... . In sum, the book ... will have a very interesting read." (Jonathan M. Jeschke, Basic and Applied Ecology, Vol. (10), 2009)
"This second volume ... focuses on non-indigenous freshwater species. The book includes 39 chapters ... by 82 contributors from 18 countries. ... I do like the book and can recommend it. It is well written throughout ... . References are provided separately for each chapter ... which is very useful when photocopying a chapter. The book's index is very useful, too ... . In sum, the book ... will have a very interesting read." (Jonathan M. Jeschke, Basic and Applied Ecology, Vol. (10), 2009)