Review by Bettine van Vuuren Department of Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosoh in African Zoology 38(1): 192.

This book represents, to my knowledge, the first (and long overdue) textbook focusing entirely on conservation genetics and the authors should be commended for doing a great job in putting it together. As stated in the preface of the book, it is directed towards students encountering conservation genetics for the first time. However, the level that certain principles are dealt with in the book definitely requires some prior understanding of the subject. The layout is mostly clear and easy to follow with many useful features: real-life examples to illustrate certain points, a short synopsis at the end of each chapter, a description of the most important literature regarding subject matter covered and finally ending off with problem statements (with the answers provided at the end of the book). Arguably, one of the most useful attributes of the book (at least to students attempting a last minute cram before the exam) is a short, one-sentence information box next to each paragraph.

Apart from the first two introductory chapters, the book is divided into three main sections. The first investigates the evolutionary genetics of natural populations and focuses on genetic diversity (chapters 3—5, 9) and the evolution of large (chapters 6—7) and small (chapter 8) populations. The second section examines the effects of a population size reduction, specifically with regards to the loss of genetic diversity (chapter 10), inbreeding (chapters 11—12) fragmentation (chapter 13) and genetically viable populations (chapter 14). The last section moves from theoretical knowledge to practical application: defining management units and resolving taxonomic uncertainties (chapter 15), the management of wild (chapter 16) and captive (chapter 17) populations as well as re-introductions into the wild (chapter 18). The concluding two chapters cover the application of conservation genetics to forensic studies, species biology (chapter 19), and population viability analyses (chapter 20).

After having highlighted the positive attributes there are some negative aspects to the book. I found it problematic that certain concepts are touched on early in the book but are only properly explained much later. One example is in chapter 2 where inbreeding and the inbreeding coefficient (F) is discussed in relation to the genetics of endan- gered species and species extinction, but only explained in detail in chapter 11. Certain key issues to understanding population dynamics (for example mismatch distributions and nested dade analyses) are also missing. Notwithstanding this, at R395 (the South African price), the book is an absolute must for students, staff and the layman interested in conservation genetics.

This book represents, to my knowledge, the first (and long overdue) textbook focusing entirely on conservation genetics and the authors should be commended for doing a great job in putting it together. As stated in the preface of the book, it is directed towards students encountering conservation genetics for the first time. However, the level that certain principles are dealt with in the book definitely requires some prior understanding of the subject. The layout is mostly clear and easy to follow with many useful features: real-life examples to illustrate certain points, a short synopsis at the end of each chapter, a description of the most important literature regarding subject matter covered and finally ending off with problem statements (with the answers provided at the end of the book). Arguably, one of the most useful attributes of the book (at least to students attempting a last minute cram before the exam) is a short, one-sentence information box next to each paragraph.

Apart from the first two introductory chapters, the book is divided into three main sections. The first investigates the evolutionary genetics of natural populations and focuses on genetic diversity (chapters 3—5, 9) and the evolution of large (chapters 6—7) and small (chapter 8) populations. The second section examines the effects of a population size reduction, specifically with regards to the loss of genetic diversity (chapter 10), inbreeding (chapters 11—12) fragmentation (chapter 13) and genetically viable populations (chapter 14). The last section moves from theoretical knowledge to practical application: defining management units and resolving taxonomic uncertainties (chapter 15), the management of wild (chapter 16) and captive (chapter 17) populations as well as re-introductions into the wild (chapter 18). The concluding two chapters cover the application of conservation genetics to forensic studies, species biology (chapter 19), and population viability analyses (chapter 20).

After having highlighted the positive attributes there are some negative aspects to the book. I found it problematic that certain concepts are touched on early in the book but are only properly explained much later. One example is in chapter 2 where inbreeding and the inbreeding coefficient (F) is discussed in relation to the genetics of endan- gered species and species extinction, but only explained in detail in chapter 11. Certain key issues to understanding population dynamics (for example mismatch distributions and nested dade analyses) are also missing. Notwithstanding this, at R395 (the South African price), the book is an absolute must for students, staff and the layman interested in conservation genetics.