Richard J. Ladle Books

Before outlining the structure of biogeography today, it's essential to understand how scientists work and their limitations. Trust in scientific claims should be approached with caution. Examining the behavior of past researchers reveals that contemporary scientists are influenced by similar factors. History offers valuable lessons, showing that the range of acceptable solutions is often constrained by societal and scientific norms. For instance, attitudes toward evolution and continental drift in the 19th and 20th centuries illustrate how such inhibitions can shape scientific discourse, with evolution still being contentious in some communities today. Scientific debates are rarely objective; they are influenced by personal beliefs, societal standing, and prior opinions. Just as "there's no business like show business," self-interest plays a significant role in scientific endeavors. Notable examples include how 19th-century middle-class scientists in England utilized the concept of evolution to challenge the establishment. Additionally, the individual case of Leon Croizat and his ideas provides an intriguing study of how personal and societal factors intersect with scientific inquiry. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for grasping the evolution of biogeographical thought.

The Earth's ecosystems are in the midst of an unprecedented period of change as a result of human action. Many habitats have been completely destroyed or divided into tiny fragments, others have been transformed through the introduction of new species, or the extinction of native plants and animals, while anthropogenic climate change now threatens to completely redraw the geographic map of life on this planet. The urgent need to understand and prescribe solutions to this complicated and interlinked set of pressing conservation issues has lead to the transformation of the venerable academic discipline of biogeography - the study of the geographic distribution of animals and plants. The newly emerged sub-discipline of conservation biogeography uses the conceptual tools and methods of biogeography to address real world conservation problems and to provide predictions about the fate of key species and ecosystems over the next century. This book provides the first comprehensive review of the field in a series of closely interlinked chapters addressing the central issues within this exciting and important subject.wiley.com/go/ladle/biogeography</a> yo access the figures from the book.