Biological Invasions: Economic and Environmental Costs of Alien Plant, Animal, and Microbe Species, Second Edition 2nd edition

Brief Description: "Some 10 million species of plants, animals, and microbes are thought to inhabit the earth, but so far only about 1.5 million of these have been identified. A mere 15 of the approximately 250,000 known plant species provide the world's human population with about 90 percent of its food.1 These crops are wheat, rice, corn, rye, barley, soybeans, and common millet. Although these crops are now grown in nearly every nation, only one or two of these crop species originated in any specific country. Among animals, eight species currently provide the bulk of the meat, milk, and eggs consumed by humans. These leading livestock species are cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, camels, chickens, and ducks. Farms in the United States feed approximately 100 million cattle, 7 million sheep, and 9 billion chickens each year"--Table of Contents: Acknowledgments -- Editor -- Contributors -- Chapter 1. Introduction: Nonnative species in the world / David Pimentel -- Section I. Australia -- Chapter 2. The impacts of alien plants in Australia / Richard H. Groves -- Chapter 3. Environmental and economic costs of invertebrate invasions in Australia / Deon Canyon, Ian Naumann, Rick Speare, Ken Winkel -- Section II. Brazil -- Chapter 4. Invasive vertebrates in Brazil / Carlos Frederico D. Rocha, Helena Godoy Bergallo, Rosana Mazzoni -- Section III. British Isles -- Chapter 5. Alien plants in Britain / Mark Williamson -- Chapter 6. Economic, environmental, and social dimensions of alien vertebrate species in Britain / Piran C. L. White, Adriana E. S. Ford-Thompson, Carolyn J. Snell, Stephen Harris -- Section IV. Europe -- Chapter 7. Impacts of alien vertebrates in Europe / Susan M. Shirley, Salit Kark -- Chapter 8. Invasive patterns of alien terrestrial invertebrates in Europe / Alain Roques -- Chapter 9. Invasive plant pathogens in Europe / Ivan Sache, Anne-Sophie Roy, Frederic Suffert, Marie-Laure Desprez-Loustau -- Section V. India -- Chapter 10. Invasive plants in the Indian subcontinent / Daizy R. Batish, R. K. Kohli, H. P. Singh -- Chapter 11. Invasive invertebrates in India: Economic implications / T. N. Ananthakrishnan -- Section VI. New Zealand -- Chapter 12. Economic impacts of weeds in New Zealand: Some examples / Peter A. Williams, Susan M. Timmins -- Chapter 13. Ecological and economic costs of alien vertebrates in New Zealand / M. N. Clout -- Section VII. South Africa -- Chapter 14. The economic consequences of the environmental impacts of alien plant invasions in South Africa / D. C. Le Maitre, W. J. de Lange, D. M. Richardson, R. M. Wise, B. W. van Wilgen -- Chapter 15. Invasive vertebrates of South Africa / Berndt J. van Rensburg, Olaf L. F. Weyl, Sarah J. Davies, Nicola J. van Wilgen, Dian Spear, Christian T. Chimimba, Faansie Peacock -- Section VIII. United States -- Chapter 16. Rodents and other vertebrate invaders in the United States / Michael W. Fall, Michael L. Avery, Tyler A. Campbell, Peter J. Egan, Richard M. Engeman, David Pimentel, William C. Pitt, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Gary W. Witmer -- Chapter 17. Environmental and economic costs associated with alien invasive species in the United States / David Pimentel -- Index. Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Publisher Marketing: This reference discusses how non-native species invade new ecosystems and the subsequent economic and environmental effects of these species. With nine new chapters, it provides information on the major components of the invasive-species problem from six continents, including impacts on human health and livestock. Review Citations:

Reference and Research Bk News 10/01/2011 pg. 228 (EAN 9781439829905, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Pimentel, David David Pimentel is a third generation American of Mexican descent. He was born and raised in Central California. He enjoys writing and reading about current issues. Pimentel is the author of two books. His first book is entitled, "America's Last Stand?." He is currently working on his third book, which is about bullying and its devastating impact on the victims.