Non-native species and their role in the environment : the need for a broader perspective / by Radu Cornel Guiașu.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 277-308) and index.

The troublesome matter of subjective definitions -- The dynamic distributions of species and the static concept of native range -- Speciation, biodiversity, and introduced species -- The controversies regarding the perceived negative impacts of non-native species -- Positive contributions of introduced species -- Changing ecosystems and impacts of introduced species over time -- The endless war on invasive species : control and eradication programs -- Some conclusions and some questions.

Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on August 09, 2016).

The young field of invasion biology - initially a branch of ecology and conservation biology - has greatly expanded, particularly in the last two and a half decades or so. As a result, the potential negative effects of introduced species have been widely advertised and sometimes, perhaps, overemphasized. This book attempts to restore some balance to the current debate over the role of non-native species, by offering a broader perspective, and taking a longer term, evolutionary look at these species and their impact in their new environments. The relatively arbitrary nature of terms such as \'native\' and \'non-native\', and the rather inconsistent ways in which such terms are applied to biological species, as well as the subjective boundaries of so-called \'native ranges\' are analyzed. The role of non-native species in their new environments can be considerably more complex than the anti-introduced species information would often suggest. Thus, the more positive and nuanced perspective on introduced species and their impact offered in this book is much needed and long overdue.

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