Molecular techniques are rapidly becoming a necessity for biologists in many areas, especially for those in such fields as ecology, conservation biology, and evolutionary biology. This book lays out the molecular tools appropriate for addressing issues in conversation, as well as presenting a few case study examples showing how molecular tools have been used successfully in conservation biology.
Molecular techniques are proving invaluable in determining the phylogenetic status of potentially endangered species, for investigating mechanisms of speciation, and for measuring the genetic structure of populations. It is increasingly important for ecologists and evolutionary and conservation biologists to understand and use such molecular techniques, but most workers in these areas have not been trained in molecular biology. This book lays out the principles and basic techniques for the molecular tools appropriate for addressing issues in conservation, and it presents case studies showing how these tools have been used successfully in conservation biology. Examples include the genetic analysis of population structure, various uses of DNA in conservation genetics, and estimation of migration parameters from genetic data. Wildlife managers, as well as researchers in these areas, will find this a valuable book.
