Biogeography and Evolution in New Zealand provides the first in-depth treatment of the biogeography of New Zealand, a region that has been a place of long-enduring interest to ecologists, evolutionary scientists, geographers, geologists, and scientists in related disciplines. It serves as a key addition to the contemporary discussion on regionalization-how is New Zealand different from the rest of the world? With what other areas does it share its geology, history, and biota? Do new molecular phylogenies show that New Zealand may be seen as a biological ‘parallel universe’ within global evolution?
I believe this to be a significant, and comprehensive, account of the plants and animals of New Zealand. It is replete with distribution maps done in an original style. Heads’s approach to biogeography is notable for its originality, and this manuscript is an especially good example. There is nothing like it. Forty years ago I wrote (and am quoted by Heads): ‘With regard to general problems of biogeography, the biota of New Zealand has been, perhaps, the most important of any in the world. …all notable authorities have felt obliged to explain its history: explain New Zealand and the world falls into place around it.’And so it is with Heads’ manuscript! —Gareth Nelson, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Australia The author has made a significant contribution by drawing together information on the New Zealand biota and its relationships from around 2000 primary sources. As a compendium, it has no equal. Although its theoretical content will be challenged, Heads has provided an accessible entrée to the diversity of the New Zealand biota. -- Richard N. Holdaway, Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, in The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol 93, 2018 I believe this to be a significant, and comprehensive, account of the plants and animals of New Zealand. It is replete with distribution maps done in an original style. Heads’s approach to biogeography is notable for its originality, and this manuscript is an especially good example. There is nothing like it. Forty years ago I wrote (and am quoted by Heads): ‘With regard to general problems of biogeography, the biota of New Zealand has been, perhaps, the most important of any in the world. …all notable authorities have felt obliged to explain its history: explain New Zealand and the world falls into place around it.’And so it is with Heads’ manuscript! —Gareth Nelson, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Australia The author has made a significant contribution by drawing together information on the New Zealand biota and its relationships from around 2000 primary sources. As a compendium, it has no equal. Although its theoretical content will be challenged, Heads has provided an accessible entrée to the diversity of the New Zealand biota. -- Richard N. Holdaway, Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, in The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol 93, 2018
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