Review: Normally, one expects the results of ecological theory to be used in applied cases. There are far fewer cases of ideas going the other way. The aim of this text is to take the knowledge of invasive species and see how it can inform standard ecological ideas. There's much merit in the idea. Invasive species often have considerable research carried out especially if they turn out to have economic implications. Although it might be unintended, the invasive species acts like a natural laboratory experiment allowing us to study the impact. The material presented here is the result of collaborations and meetings which brought together a range of researchers working in this area. As such, it seems as much luck as hard science with some history added as the work was to be published about 40 years after an earlier meeting on the same subject. This gives the work a sharper edge where ideas and possibilities are seen as important as hard data.

To realise these ideas, the book is divided into the three parts noted in the subtitle: ecology, evolution and biogeography. Part one therefore focusses on what ecology can learn from invasive species. Chapter one outlines the value that we can gain from studying these events - here we have a large-scale experiment that would not be possible otherwise giving insight into how species interact in new areas. Chapter two looks at the advantages of invasion - usually an increase in species. This also allows us to study human interventions (our usual source) and compare them with 'natural' invasions in the past. Chapter three investigates the impact of the invasive species on the physical processes of the area. Changes do not have to be either rapid or dramatic because in many cases a small change will be enough to trigger larger events. This theme is continued in chapter four which describes changes in bird fauna on islands. Extinction for native species is common but, as this work shows, it is not a simple picture largely because the existing ecosystem is not a passive recipient waiting for something to happen - it can, and will resist invasion but with patchy results. A similar theme is taken in chapter five which looks at how parasites can affect not only the invading species but the hosts. Absence/presence of parasites can add an extra dimension to the success of invasion. Part two turns to look at evolution. Given that evolution is a response to a specific changes, introduced species can offer us a valuable insight. Here is an often well-documented example of change which can be used to test models, study genetic response and examine pathways of evolution. We start with a study of two key organisms - Drosophila and Salmon, both used in 'experiments' both laboratory and in the field. The idea that change can be rapid and therefore available to study makes a valuable contribution to the field. From here we move on to a more controversial idea in the taxon cycle (chapter seven): the idea that just a species can evolve and become extinct, so can larger groups of organisms. Most invasions occur with reduced numbers of individuals which can affect the genetic flow. This can, in turn, create genetic bottlenecks (chapter 8) whose characteristics can influence both the invaders and the invaded. This is linked to chapter 9 whose focus is to quantify those changes and assess their significance. It's not just the amount of genetic material that's important - it's also the way in which this can affect the niches occupied. An invading species will work in a given range of niches. This may or may not be sufficient to establish the population. By studying this in the field we can test some theoretical ideas although we don't always get the best data. A final chapter in this part argues that the invading species allows us to work at scales far larger than usual and allows us to challenge bigger evolutionary questions such as sex selection. Part three focusses on the impact of invasion on biogeography. Biogeography has not always welcomed invading species because they are often seen as the 'noise' that clouds an otherwise pristine biome. However, with the huge range of invasions today there is less strength in this position. As with ecology and evolution, invading species are here and have a use in our studies. To reinforce this position, chapter 12 points out that invasion is a standard process in biogeography and that today we just have slightly more due to human activity. Chapter 13 looks at coevolution and how species interact. Chapter 14 takes a very different view noting that many invasive species form similar distribution patterns to native species using ecological rather than evolutionary principles (a theme followed also in chapter 16 which looks at the scaling patterns of birds). Chapter 15 shows how the evidence we've gathered in studying invading species has been synthesised to give us a broad idea of distribution and patterns. A final chapter looks at the capacity of areas to house a given number of species. A 'capstone' summarises key ideas and suggests ways forward.

This is a very lively text where the interest of the contributors is clearly evident. It provides the reader with a good overview of where invading species can help us. Rather than see it as a negative change to ecosystems, invaders are part of the general response of species through time. Despite the interest the book generates it is aimed at the more experienced reader and would thus be of interest to educators (but would be an ideal reader for undergraduate ecology courses where wider thinking should be encouraged).