Includes bibliographical references and index.

Insights into biotic interactions from studies of species invasions / John F. Bruno ... [et al.] -- Species invasions and the relationships between species diversity, community saturation, and ecosystem functioning / John J. Stachowicz and David Tilman -- Plant species effects on ecosystem processes : insights from invasive species / Carla M. D'Antonio and Sarah E. Hobbie -- Biological invasions and the loss of birds on islands : insights into the idiosyncrasies of extinction / Tim M. Blackburn and Kevin J. Gaston -- The role of infectious diseases in natural communities : what introduced species tell us / Kevin D. Lafferty ... [et al.] -- Using invasive species to study evolution : case studies with Drosophila and salmon / Raymond B. Huey, George W. Gilchrist, and Andrew P. Hendry -- Taxon cycles : insights from invasive species / Robert E. Ricklefs -- Genetic bottlenecks in alien plant species : influence of mating systems and introduction dynamics / Stephen J. Novak and Richard N. Mack -- Mechanisms that drive evolutionary change : insights from species introductions and invasions / John P. Wares, A. Randall Hughes, and Richard K. Grosberg -- Theories of niche conservatism and evolution : could exotic species be potential tests? / Robert D. Holt, Michael Barfield, and Richard Gomulkiewicz -- Testing fundamental evolutionary questions at large spatial and demographic scales : species invasions as an underappreciated tool / William R. Rice and Dov F. Sax -- Invasion as expectation : a historical fact of life / Geerat J. Vermeij -- Evolutionary trajectories in plant and soil microbial communities : centaurea invasions and the geographic mosaic of coevolution / Ragan M. Callaway, José́ L. Hierro, and Andrea S. Thorpe -- Community composition and homogenization : evenness and abundance of native and exotic plant species / Michael L. McKinney and Julie L. Lockwood -- Rates of population spread and geographic range expansion : what exotic species tell us / Brian P. Kinlan and Alan Hastings -- Distribution and abundance : scaling patterns in exotic and native bird species / Fabio A. Labra, Sebastián R. Abades, and Pablo A. Marquet -- The dynamics of species invasions : insights into the mechanisms that limit species diversity / Dov F. Sax ... [et al.] -- Where do we go from here? / Dov F. Sax, John J. Stachowicz, and Steven D. Gaines.

"The study of species invasions to date has focused mainly on applied aspects. This book explores the potential of invasive species studies to offer insights into fundamental research issues in ecology, evolution, conservation biology, and biogeography. Contributed chapters by provide a framework applicable to general ecological studies"--Provided by publisher.