Dr. Robert A. Francis, Pro Dean and Reader in Ecology at King’s College London, has edited Routledge’s new handbook on biosecurity and invasive species with his colleague Kezia Barker. The book’s premise is despite the existing literature in these fields, theoretical and practical approaches to the field needed to be fully integrated. The handbook is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive species, living modified organisms and biological weapons that incorporate the natural and social science disciplines. Authors of each chapter focus on specific ecosystems to explain the causes and consequences of invasive species. For instance, Dr. Francis and Dr. Chadwick wrote a chapter titled ‘species invasions in freshwater ecosystems.’ Both authors argue that human activity, ecological degradation, landscape position and connectivity result in freshwater ecosystem invasions. The consequences of human activity and landscape characteristics on freshwater ecosystems are typically irreversible. In all, the first edition of the Routledge handbook of biosecurity and invasive species examines national and international management of current invasive species to determine the best course of action for future scenarios. To learn more about this work, click here.
