1: The first thorough synthesis of Biogeography
I waited a long time for this book to come out, after hearing about it at a professional conference. I was at first disappointed by the lack of more colorful graphics, but then when I was able to read the text thoroughly, it was clear that content was the reason to buy this.
While others have tried providing syntheses for biogeography, this is the first and only one that has struck me as appropriate for classroom use. It would be quite suitable for an upper-division undergraduate course in Biogeography and many in Biology will also find this volume useful, especially those in Ecology or Conservation Biology. All in all, MacDonald's first stab at a modern synthesis of a growing field hits the mark, and should only improve with time and further editions. This volume, although pricey in hardback form, will make a great companion to Quammen's "Song of the Dodo Bird" in elucidating the complexity and beauty of biogeography. Kudos to the author.
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