Conservation and the Genetics of Populations gives a comprehensive overview of the essential background, concepts, and tools needed to understand how genetic information can be used to develop conservation plans for species threatened with extinction. Provides a thorough understanding of the genetic basis of biological problems in conservation. Uses a balance of data and theory, and basic and applied research, with examples taken from both the animal and plant kingdoms. An associated website contains example data sets and software programs to illustrate population genetic processes and methods of data analysis. Discussion questions and problems are included at the end of each chapter to aid understanding. Features Guest Boxes written by leading people in the field including James F. Crow, Nancy FitzSimmons, Robert C. Lacy, Michael W. Nachman, Michael E. Soule, Andrea Taylor, Loren H. Rieseberg, R.C. Vrijenhoek, Lisette Waits, Robin S. Waples and Andrew Young. For supplementary information designed to support Conservation and the Genetics of Populations including: Downloadable sample chapter Answers to questions and problems Data sets illustrating problems from the book Data analysis software programs Website links Downloadable artwork and diagrams from the book (also available by request on CD-ROM) please go to: www.blackwellpublishing.com/allendorf.

Fred W. Allendorf is a Regents Professor at the University of Montana and a Professorial Research Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. His primary research interests are conservation and population genetics. He has published over 200 articles on the population genetics and conservation of fish, amphibians, mammals, invertebrates, and plants. He is a past President of the American Genetic Association, served as Director of the Population Biology Program of the National Science Foundation, and has served on the editorial boards of Conservation Biology, Molecular Ecology, Evolution, Conservation Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution, and the Journal of Heredity. He has taught conservation genetics at the University of Montana, University of Oregon, University of Minnesota, and Victoria University of Wellington.

Gordon Luikart is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Montana and a Visiting Professor in the Center for Investigation of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the University of Porto, Portugal. He was a Research Scientist with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique(CNRS)at the University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France. His research focuses on the conservation and genetics of wild and domestic animals, and includes nearly 50 publications in the field. He was a Fulbright Scholar at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, is a member of the IUCN specialists group for Caprinae (mountain ungulate) conservation, and has served on the editorial boards of Conservation Biology and Molecular Ecology Notes.