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Alien Reptiles and Amphibians a Scientific Compendium and Analysis
Invading Nature
by Fred Kraus
Pages: 571
Publisher: --
Edition: 1st., 2009
Language: English
ISBN: 978-1402089459
Description
Transportation of species to areas outside their native ranges has been a feature of human culture for millennia. During this time such activities have largely been viewed as beneficial or inconsequential. However, it has become increasingly clear that human-caused introductions of alien biota are an ecological disruption whose consequences rival those of better-known insults like chemical pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Indeed, the irreversible nature of most alien-species introductions makes them less prone to correction than many other ecological problems. Current reshuffling of species ranges is so great that the present era has been referred to by some as the “Homogocene” in an effort to reflect the unique magnitude of the changes being made.
These alien interlopers often cause considerable ecological and economic damage where introduced. Species extinctions, food-web disruptions, community alterations, ecosystem conversion, changes in nutrient cycling, fisheries collapse, watershed degradation, agricultural loss, building damage, and disease epidemics are among the destructive – and frequently unpredictable – ecological and economic effects that invasive alien species can inflict. The magnitude of these damages continues to grow, with virtually all environments heavily used by humans now dominated by alien species and many “natural” areas becoming increasingly prone to alien invasion as well.
Enjoy! :up:
Invading Nature
by Fred Kraus
Pages: 571
Publisher: --
Edition: 1st., 2009
Language: English
ISBN: 978-1402089459
Description
Transportation of species to areas outside their native ranges has been a feature of human culture for millennia. During this time such activities have largely been viewed as beneficial or inconsequential. However, it has become increasingly clear that human-caused introductions of alien biota are an ecological disruption whose consequences rival those of better-known insults like chemical pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Indeed, the irreversible nature of most alien-species introductions makes them less prone to correction than many other ecological problems. Current reshuffling of species ranges is so great that the present era has been referred to by some as the “Homogocene” in an effort to reflect the unique magnitude of the changes being made.
These alien interlopers often cause considerable ecological and economic damage where introduced. Species extinctions, food-web disruptions, community alterations, ecosystem conversion, changes in nutrient cycling, fisheries collapse, watershed degradation, agricultural loss, building damage, and disease epidemics are among the destructive – and frequently unpredictable – ecological and economic effects that invasive alien species can inflict. The magnitude of these damages continues to grow, with virtually all environments heavily used by humans now dominated by alien species and many “natural” areas becoming increasingly prone to alien invasion as well.
Enjoy! :up: