Where do camels belong? The story and science of invasive species

By asking a simple, almost childish question, "Where do camels belong?," Thompson (formerly, animal and plant sciences, Univ. of Sheffield, UK; Do We Need Pandas?, 2010) deftly opens a thought-provoking inquiry into scientific biases. Biogeography is a hot topic. Global climate change is pushing all manner of living things around the map. Understanding which birds, mammals, plants, fish, etc., are supposed to be in a particular location and which are invaders shapes the damage assessments of the climate change debate. With his droll sense of humor, Thompson keeps the text engaging and delightful. He can be read on two levels: first, as someone who reviews what is known about invasive species (not much, but as detailed in extensive chapter notes, scientists' ignorance is not for lack of trying) and second, as a philosopher pointing out that what humans call an invasive is more about personal beliefs than about the invasive species in question. How much of community ecology is based on human desire for stable partnerships? How much of the negative feeling directed toward "invasive species" is good old xenophobia? Advanced researchers are those most in need of the answers to Thompson's simple questions, but general readers can join in the fun. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. --George C. Stevens, University of New Mexico

Despite current popular and scientific views, all the money spent on fighting invasive species is a waste, argues Thompson (animal and plant sciences, Univ. of Sheffield; Do We Need Pandas?). Our very definition of native vs. alien species is muddied and biased, he says, adding that the likelihood of any transplanted alien species flourishing is low, and the ones that do succeed behave no differently from any other hardy plant or animal would. Instead, it is humans who decrease biodiversity by so dramatically shaping the world around us when we don't fully understand the consequences. While Thompson's arguments occasionally seem more lawyerly than scientific, poking holes in commonly held opinions rather than painting a complete picture, the information he presents is compelling. Extensive endnotes add rigor but there are a few missteps, such as citations of Wikipedia and "the web site invasivespecies-Scotland" to construct a straw man, and the author doesn't shy away from jargon, leaving his book awkwardly straddling pop science and academic text and appealing chiefly to fervent amateur biodiversity devotees. VERDICT This title brings an important minority opinion to light but may struggle to find an audience.-Gretchen Kolderup, New York P.L. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.