Book Reviews

Biological Diversity: The Coexistence of Species on Changing Landscapes
Michael A. Huston
Cambridge University Press, 1994

What the Reviewers say:

"...a grand unifying theory..."

"...an extremely complete and interesting book..."

" ...a book of remarkable scope..."

"...far more effective as an undergraduate text..."

"...meets this challenge head on..."

"...Huston goes astray with a short and entirely too superficial analysis..."

"...required reading for graduate-level courses in ecology..."

"...the reader is captivated by the simplicity of the model, the overt soundness of the conclusions, and the clarity of the writing."

"...at best it will confuse and at worst mislead ..."

"This book is one of those academic rarities"

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Additional Excerpts

Manac Nature Conservation Trust Newsletter, July, 1995

"Those who make the effort will, however, be well rewarded because even complex arguments are put across clearly with well chosen examples and diagrams. The author's basic thesis is that it is the property of individuals, of plants and animals, which determine the response of the system to ecological processes such as predation and that this in turn determines the patterns of diversity observed by ecologists.

"The final chapter argues that understanding diversity is not irrelevant and that attempts to conserve biological diversity are both necessary and economically sound. Let us hope, then, that this book is read as widely as it should be."

Nick Pinder, Convenor
Isle of Man Government's Wildlife Committee

British Ecological Society Bulletin (1995)

'Biodiversity" has become one of the buzz words of ecological scientists and politicians alike in the 1990's. ... Biological Diversity by Michael Huston provides a counter to this perhaps superficial view. The book is a goldmine of research results and information concerning biodiversity written in a clear and relaxed style.

"At the moment there is active debate on the subject of biodiversity and land use change in many areas and the information presented in the book will be extremely valuable for those involved. ...In the final chapter he introduces the subject of biodiversity and economics. While this is obviously an area for further thought and development, he summarizes the current state of play very well.

"The book is suited to a range of people including biology and ecology students and interested biodiversity watchers. It also provides much needed summary information for a range of decision makers whose actions affect the current patterns of biological diversity."

Unsigned

Alauda (France), 63(4), 1995

the author develops a set of concepts which expand the traditional theories on diversity specifically to explain the observed patterns, the obvious exceptions to these rules, and the common characteristics of different ecosystems at all levels, while incorporating the principal ecological theories and illustrating them by numerous case studies.

J._M.T.

Ordering Information

M.A. Huston. (1994). Biological Diversity: The Coexistence of Species on Changing Landscape. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 708 pp. 193 line diagrams, 24 tables.

ISBN: 0 521 36093 5 Hardback (out of print)

ISBN: 0 521 36090 4 Paperback (Fifth Printing)