Relict Species Phylogeography and Conservation Biology
This book provides an overview of the importance of research on relict species and presents conclusions and findings on the conservation of these species. There are relict species and populations from nearly all plant and animal groups and they contribute
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Jan Christian Habel • Thorsten Assmann Editors
Relict Species Phylogeography and Conservation Biology
Editors Dr. Jan Christian Habel Musée National d´Histoire Naturelle Luxembourg 25, rue Münster 2160 Luxembourg [email protected] Prof. Dr. Thorsten Assmann Institute of Ecology and Environmental Chemistry Leuphana University Lüneburg Scharnhorststr. 1 21335 Lüneburg Germany [email protected]
ISBN 978-3-540-92159-2 e-ISBN 978-3-540-92160-8 DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-92160-8 Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2009932420 © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover design: WMXDesign GmbH Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Foreword
Mankind has evolved both genetically and culturally to become a most successful and dominant species. But we are now so numerous and our technology is so powerful that we are having major effects on the planet, its environment, and the biosphere. For some years prophets have warned of the possible detrimental consequences of our activities, such as pollution, deforestation, and overfishing, and recently it has become clear that we are even changing the atmosphere (e.g. ozone, carbon dioxide). This is worrying since the planet’s life systems are involved and dependent on its functioning. Current climate change – global warming – is one recognised consequence of this larger problem. To face this major challenge, we will need the research and advice of many disciplines – Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biology, and Sociology – and particularly the commitment of wise politicians such as US Senator Al Gore. An important aspect of this global problem that has been researched for several decades is the loss of species and the impoverishment of our ecosystems, and hence their ability to sustain themselves, and more particularly us! Through evolutionary time new species have been generated and some have gone extinct. Such extinction and regeneration are moulded by changes in the earth’s crust, atmosphere, and resultant climate. Some extinctions have been massive, particularly those associated with catastrophic meteoric impacts like
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