Tropical Islands Biodiversity Crisis:: The Indo-West Pacific [Paperback]

This work assesses the issues facing biodiversity maintenance on tropical islands, and the impacts of biodiversity loss. The emphasis is on the Indo-West Pacific region, which includes many small islands where the biodiversity is under threat as a result of not only climate change and habitat destruction, but invasions by organisms previously absent from an island. The contributors are distinguished biodiversity scientists from inside and outside the region, and cover topics ranging from the state of conservation action in South-East Asia, the role of parks, and the status and threat to endemics, to impacts of oil and gas exploration and forest fragmentation. Issues needing still to be addressed, especially in relation to implications of biodiversity loss or change for the maintenance of ecosystem processes, are highlighted. The conclusions and case studies have lessons for all involved in the conservation of the biotas and ecosystems of islands.Previously published in Biodiversity and Conservation 19:2 2010Assessing the issues involved with tropical island biodiversity maintenance, this volume measures the impacts of biodiversity loss. The text explores the Indo-West Pacific region, which includes many small islands where climate change and habitat destruction pose a threat to the island's ecosystem.Introduction; David J.W. Lane.- The state and conservation of Southeast Asian biodiversity; Navjot S. Sodhi et al.- Why tropical island endemics are acutely susceptible to global change; Damien A. Fordham, Barry W. Brook.- Conservation of Borneo biodiversity: do small lowland parks have a role, or are big inland sanctuaries sufficient? Brunei as an example; Peter S. Ashton.- Re-assessing current extinction rates; Nigel E. Stork.- Late quaternary turnover of mammals in Borneo: the zooarchaeological record; Earl of Cranbrook.- Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Indo-Malayan peat swamp forests; Catherine M. Yule.- Invasive aliens on tropical East Asian islanl#K