An Introduction to Conservation Biology is the only text designed for both aspiring conservation biologists and students who are interested in this topical field, providing up-to-date perspectives on high-profile issues such as sustainable development, global warming, and strategies to save species on the verge of extinction.

The book focuses successively on: biological diversity and its value; threats to biological diversity; conservation at the population and species levels; protecting, managing and restoring ecosystems; and sustainable development. Each chapter is beautifully illustrated in full color with diverse examples from the current literature. Chapters begin with guiding conservation biology principles and end with study aids such as summaries, an annotated list of suggested readings, and discussion questions. Throughout, the authors maintain a focus on the active role that scientists, local people, conservation organisations, government, and the general public play in protecting biodiversity, even while providing for human needs.

The eBook offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: Find the eBook on VitalSource.

Features

• Each chapter begins with general ideas and principles, beautifully illustrated in full color with diverse examples from the current literature
• Chapters end with summaries, an annotated list of suggested readings, discussion questions, and extensive summary statements in the text margins that serve as study aids
• Throughout, the authors maintain a focus on the active role that scientists, local people, conservation organizations, government, and the general public play in protecting biodiversity, even while providing for human needs
• Many full-color figures illustrate examples and important concepts with call-out boxes that assist with student comprehension

New to this Edition

• More than 240 changes to text and tables, 275 new citations, and new figures in every chapter
• Increased representation of women and BIPOC in the textbook
• Significant edits and additions regarding the roles and experiences of Indigenous people in the field of conservation biology
• Incorporation of several new discoveries and developments, including the latest understanding of the causes of the Permian extinction and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) and its principles to guide restoration
• Additional discussion of the political aspects of climate change and of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the addition of a new “Global Change Connection” icon to highlight the ways in which we are changing the Earth
• An elaboration on the concept of the types of biodiversity, including a refinement of the definition of species diversity, with additional examples
• A reorganization of the chapter on restoration ecology
• Upgraded digital resources, including a video guide consisting of a curated list of freely accessible videos and an enhanced e-Book with self-assessment questions after every chapter subheading

1. Defining Conservation Biology
2. What Is Biodiversity?
3. The Value of Biodiversity
4. Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Change
5. Climate Change and Other Threats to Biodiversity
6. Extinction Risk
7. Conserving Populations and Species
8. Establishing New Populations and Ex Situ Conservation
9. Protected Areas
10. Conservation Outside Protected Areas
11. Restoration Ecology
12. The Challenges of Sustainable Development
13. An Agenda for the Future

Anna Sher, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Denver.

Anna Sher is a full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Denver, where she has been on the faculty since 2003. She was a double major in Biology and Art at Earlham College, where she also taught ecology as a Howard Hughes Fellow, visiting lecturer, and as the co-leader of the Earlham Study Abroad Kenya Program in 1992, 2000, and 2002. She received her PhD from the University of New Mexico, where she also taught botany as a visiting lecturer. As a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Sher was awarded a Fulbright postdoctoral research fellowship to conduct research on plant interactions in Israel at Ben Gurion University's Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology. She also studied the ecology of an invasive grass at the University of California, Davis.

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"Sher provides just the right amount of detail, at the appropriate level, for my students. The examples are current, the figures are clear, and the information is topical." -- Susan Margulis, Canisius College

"I reviewed a lot of textbooks before deciding to adopt this one. Sher was the most complete and up-to-date text I reviewed, provided a very thorough presentation of conservation biology, was geared to the level of my students, and was easy to read and follow." -- Gary S. Comp, University of South Florida