Understanding Invasive Species in the Galapagos Islands
From the Molecular to the Landscape
Editors: Torres, Maria de Lourdes, Mena, Carlos (Eds.)
Free Preview- Explores the problem of invasive species from a multi-scalar perspective, from the molecular to the landscape, and how each of these scales present conservation and management implications
- Presents a series of studies in the Galapagos Islands, a unique place to study evolution, and now a unique place to understand how introduced species change the environment, creating challenges for endemic species conservation and for management strategies
- Follows a multi-disciplinary approach, including studies from biology, genetics, ecology, geography and sociology, showing that talking about invasives necessitates the consideration of a broad spectrum of different aspects
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- About this book
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This book investigates the introduction of invasive species and their behavior in oceanic islands. How can we define invasive species? What is their history? How did they come to dominate and transform ecosystems? These are relevant questions when trying to understand the behavior of invasive species—primarily in fragile ecosystems such as islands—and to understand the biological, ecological, social and economic impacts of invasions.
We chose the Galapagos Islands, a place well-known to be unique in the study of evolution, as a laboratory to analyze the interactions between invasive and endemic species, to understand the makeup of the ecosystems emerging after invasions have occurred, to describe the relationships of invasives with the people that live in these islands, and to try to develop comprehensive analyses on this topic from multi-scalar and multi-disciplinary points of view. For a long time, the discussion has been about how proper management of the species could achieve two main goals: the eradication of the species to recover affected ecosystems and the conservation of endemic species. The discussion has taken on other nuances, including the suggestion that an invasive species, when it is already adapted to an ecosystem, forms an integral part of it, and thus eradication would in itself go against conservation. On the other hand, some invasive species are not only part of the biological compound of the island ecosystems, but they also form part of the social and cultural history of the inhabited islands. Some of these identified by the local inhabitants are species of real or potential economic value. - About the authors
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María de Lourdes Torres, Ph.D.Vicedecana, Coordinadora BiotecnologíaColegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, COCIBAUniversidad San Francisco de QuitoT: (+593) 2 297-1700 ext. 1746E-mail: ltorres@usfq.edu.ecDiego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, Quito, Ecuador
Carlos F. MenaColegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, COCIBAUniversidad San Francisco de QuitoT: (+593 2) 297-1700, ext. 1866E-mail: cmena@usfq.edu.ec
- Table of contents (12 chapters)
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A Preliminary Assessment of the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Guava, Psidium guajava, in San Cristobal
Pages 3-17
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Genetic Consequences of Invasive Species in the Galapagos Islands
Pages 19-32
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Interactions Among Exotics: Guava and Its Associated Fauna in the Highlands of San Cristobal
Pages 35-46
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A Study Contrasting Two Congener Plant Species: Psidium guajava (Introduced Guava) and P. galapageium (Galapagos Guava) in the Galapagos Islands
Pages 47-68
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Quinine Tree Invasion and Control in Galapagos: A Case Study
Pages 69-76
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- Understanding Invasive Species in the Galapagos Islands
- Book Subtitle
- From the Molecular to the Landscape
- Editors
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- Maria de Lourdes Torres
- Carlos Mena
- Series Title
- Social and Ecological Interactions in the Galapagos Islands
- Copyright
- 2018
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Copyright Holder
- Springer International Publishing AG
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-319-67177-2
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-319-67177-2
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-67176-5
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-88391-5
- Series ISSN
- 2195-1055
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXVII, 237
- Number of Illustrations
- 6 b/w illustrations, 37 illustrations in colour
- Topics
