Alien Species and Evolution: The Evolutionary Ecology of Exotic Plants, Animals, Microbes, and Interacting Native Species

From Book News, Inc.
Not everyone concerned about bioengineering is aware that transgenic species also occur naturally. Cox (emeritus, biology, San Diego State U.), the author of Alien Species in North America and Hawaii (Island Press, 1999), describes the impact of non- native organisms on native species and ecosystems. With examples of such invasions worldwide, he introduces the concept of alien species' propensity for accelerated evolution. The glossary defines terms from "additive genetic variation" to "xenodiversity."Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Book Description

In Alien Species and Evolution, biologist George W. Cox reviews and synthesizes emerging information on the evolutionary changes that occur in plants, animals, and microbial organisms when they colonize new geographical areas, and on the evolutionary responses of the native species with which alien species interact.

The book is broad in scope, exploring information across a wide variety of taxonomic groups, trophic levels, and geographic areas. It examines theoretical topics related to rapid evolutionary change and supports the emerging concept that species introduced to new physical and biotic environments are particularly prone to rapid evolution. The author draws on examples from all parts of the world and all major ecosystem types, and the variety of examples used gives considerable insight into the patterns of evolution that are likely to result from the massive introduction of species to new geographic regions that is currently occurring around the globe.

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