Foundations of Biogeography: Classic Papers with Commentaries [Paperback]

Mark V. Lomolino (Editor), Dov F. Sax (Editor), James H. Brown (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0226492370 | ISBN-13: 978-0226492377 | Edition: 1

Foundations of Biogeography provides facsimile reprints of seventy-two works that have proven fundamental to the development of the field. From classics by Georges-Louis LeClerc Compte de Buffon, Alexander von Humboldt, and Charles Darwin to equally seminal contributions by Ernst Mayr, Robert MacArthur, and E. O. Wilson, these papers and book excerpts not only reveal biogeography's historical roots but also trace its theoretical and empirical development. Selected and introduced by leading biogeographers, the articles cover a wide variety of taxonomic groups, habitat types, and geographic regions. Foundations of Biogeography will be an ideal introduction to the field for beginning students and an essential reference for established scholars of biogeography, ecology, and evolution.

List of Contributors
John C. Briggs, James H. Brown, Vicki A. Funk, Paul S. Giller, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Lawrence R. Heaney, Robert Hengeveld, Christopher J. Humphries, Mark V. Lomolino, Alan A. Myers, Brett R. Riddle, Dov F. Sax, Geerat J. Vermeij, Robert J. Whittaker

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is not only a truly voluminous book . . . it is also very interesting and supplies stimulating reading of papers of various styles and approaches."—P. Langer, Mammalian Biology

(P. Langer Mammalian Biology )

"If your class reading list calls for something on Linnaeus, Buffon, de Candolle, von Humboldt and Hooker at one end of the time span, along with MacArthur and Wilson''s theory and developments in the 1970s, this 2-kg set will be very useful."—Mark Williamson, Nature

(Mark Williamson Nature )

"It is not possible to do justice here to the dozens and dozens of great studies reprinted in this book--after all, virtually every paper is considered a classic in its own rignt--but perhaps it suffices to say that it should not come as any surprise when Foundations of Biogeography itself becomes a major milestone in modern biogeography."

(Carole T. Gee Plant Systematics and Evolution )

“Compendia of this type can be judged by two criteria: how effectively the specific selections convey the complex history of the field, and how well the accompanying commentaries orient the reader to provide a realistic sense of the science’s development. . . . The book measures up well to these standards.  The selection includes warty works as well as bright jewels, and most of the commentaries provide a good accounting of the twists and turns as concepts and research avenues developed toward the present. . . . Another standard for judging a compilation is how many surprises we encounter.  Again, the volume stands up well.”—Stephen T. Jackson, Ecology

(Stephen T. Jackson Ecology )

"[The Foundations] are all extremely useful for teaching, and the present volume is no exception, providing a generous basis for an advanced course or graduate seminar. . . . The volume is a major accomplishment. Praise is due to the publisher, volume editors, and section editors for providing a compendious resource for students and scholars in the history of evolution, ecology, and biogeography."

(Jane R. Camerini Journal of the History of Biology )

"The purpose of the Foundations series is to bring together and reprint classic papers from a field in one place and create a volume for students of the field to use as a reference. In this aim, the Foundations of Biogepgraphy succeeds admirably. . . . [The] book should make a worthy addition to the library of a biogreographer at any stage. . . .This book would make an excellent text for use in an introduction to biogeography seminar or in a history of biogeography course."

(S. Kathleen Lyons Journal of Mammal Evolution ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap

Foundations of Biogeography provides facsimile reprints of seventy-two works that have proven fundamental to the development of the field. From classics by Georges-Louis LeClerc Compte de Buffon, Alexander von Humboldt, and Charles Darwin to equally seminal contributions by Ernst Mayr, Robert MacArthur, and E. O. Wilson, these papers and book excerpts not only reveal biogeography's historical roots but also trace its theoretical and empirical development. Selected and introduced by leading biogeographers, the articles cover a wide variety of taxonomic groups, habitat types, and geographic regions. Foundations of Biogeography will be an ideal introduction to the field for beginning students and an essential reference for established scholars of biogeography, ecology, and evolution.

List of Contributors
John C. Briggs, James H. Brown, Vicki A. Funk, Paul S. Giller, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Lawrence R. Heaney, Robert Hengeveld, Christopher J. Humphries, Mark V. Lomolino, Alan A. Myers, Brett R. Riddle, Dov F. Sax, Geerat J. Vermeij, Robert J. Whittaker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1328 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226492370
• ISBN-13: 978-0226492377
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent sourcebook, December 3, 2004

By 

John Anderson (Bar Harbor, ME USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Foundations of Biogeography: Classic Papers with Commentaries (Paperback)

This collection is a worthy companion to Chicago Univ. Press' earlier FOUNDATIONS OF ECOLOGY. Spanning the period (literally) of Linnaeus to MacArthur BIOGEOGRAPHY presents a wealth of key sources (many now hard to find)which, when coupled with the Commetaries can form the core of a solid course on Biogeography. While some folks may complain that the collection stops too soon (early 1970's) I think the editors have been wise to really restrict themsleves to classics with real staying power, rather than run the risk of being more "contemporary" by including things that may be little more than 9 days' wonders. I would STRONGLY reccomend this book for any grad student or professor interested in ecology, biogeography, or evolution. I doubt my copy will spend much time on the shelf!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biogeography papers, July 27, 2005

By 

William D. Gosling (Florida Institute of Technology, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Foundations of Biogeography: Classic Papers with Commentaries (Paperback)

This series of papers provides an in depth background to the field of Biogeography. Many of the papers reprinted here are difficult to obtain else where.

Excellent, like like the rest of the "Foundations of..." series.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A biogeographer's bible (but also good for the amateur naturalist), December 27, 2005

By 

Sarakani (Harrow United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foundations of Biogeography: Classic Papers with Commentaries (Paperback)

Biogeography is a vast subject and in the introduction of this mammoth volume of almost 1300 pages it is argued that it should be treated as a separate major discipline within the framework of life sciences. Foundations charts the history of biogeography from Linnaen roots in the 18th century to the mid 1980s by collecting together and reproducing in whole or in part classic papers, articles and book chapters that represent innovation, refinement and expansion in the horizons of this subject. The selection overall represents the corpus of material upon which modern biogeographic studies flourish. The burden of choice in the selections used has rested on the shoulders of the editors and a small army of recognisable experts individually appointed to take care of each of the seven parts of the work dealing with separate themes in a roughly chronological framework. Each part begins with an introductory section which relates the items selected to the theme under consideration - representing both a commentary and a corrective to the "historical" material to follow.

To a large extent biogeography is a linkage of evolutionary and speciation studies to Earth history and geography in the contexts like climates, barriers and habitats. From key innovators there is a roll call of some of the best known workers encompassing geology, zoology botany and palaeontology.

In 1858 the ornithologist P. L. Sclater defined the zoogeographic realms still largely accepted to this date. Darwin, Wallace and J. D. Hooker amongst a coterie of sadly lesser known botanists argued out and complimented each others ideas of evolution in relation to geography. The identification of the ice ages and subsequently plate tectonics via A. Wegener and the synthesis of resulting thought probably represents the historical highlight of Foundations. The role call continues with G. G. Simpson, W. Hennig, L. Croizat, E. Mayr, D. Lack, E. O. Wilson and J. M. Diamond representing just a selection of the authors signposting a radiation of ideas.

Foundations is very much a multidisciplinary spread and not just a historical progression. Important concepts are highlighted and explored within further themes such as Vicariance and Dispersal, Diversification, Islands, Assembly rules and Gradients asking why there are so many species in the tropics.

The work is no primer and would take quite a lot of study unless an eclectic approach is taken to start with. It contains some of the most important papers in the field ever written - eminently quotable and often inaccessible and complex mathematical theory in parts. There could be some argument about the selection and potential biases. Overall the format represents a highly collectible reference of scriptural proportions to naturalists and historians alike and the work will enhance future research. As broached in the introduction the format is repeatable making this an important edition of a larger historical enterprise.