《保护生物学》编译自Richard B. Primack编写的Essentials of Conservation Biology（Fifth Edition），系统阐述了保护生物学的范畴、主要内容和发展历程，生物多样性的概念、分布和价值，生物多样性面临的威胁及其引起的物种丧失和灭绝，种群和物种水平的保护，生态系统和景观水平的保护与恢复，生物多样性保护与社会经济可持续发展。《保护生物学》内容丰富、知识系统、逻辑合理、层次清晰。原著已经被翻译成25种语言出版，是目前国际上最受欢迎的保护生物学教科书。

本书介绍了动物行为的研究简史、研究方法和技术、内分泌调节，以及动物的采食行为、繁殖行为、育幼行为、玩耍行为、通讯行为等内容。作者在总结多年研究结果的基础上，综合国内外有关研究进展，提出了动物行为的刚性和弹性、动物行为的表达空间等概念，探讨了动物行为的时空结构、行为多样性与生境元素丰富度之间的关系，提出了结构行为学的雏形。作者还专门介绍了动物的迁徙行为，栖息地选择与自然保护区设计，人工繁育野生动物回归自然，有尾两栖类动物的行为与保护，峨眉山人与猴冲突问题及对策，以及现代人类社会中野生动物与人类的行为互作等应用问题。
本书适合从事生物学、自然保护、环境保护、行为学、实验生物学的科技工作者、大学生、研究生以及野生动物保护站与动物园、自然保护区管理的工作者参考。

Essentials of Conservation Biology, Sixth Edition combines theory and applied and basic research to explain the connections between conservation biology and ecology, climate change biology, the protection of endangered species, protected area management, environmental economics, and sustainable development. A major theme throughout the book is the active role that scientists, local people, the general public, conservation organizations, and governments can play in protecting biodiversity, even while providing for human needs. Each chapter begins with general ideas and principles, which are illustrated with choice examples from the current literature. The most instructive examples are discussed in boxes highlighting projects, species, and issues of particular significance. Chapters end with summaries, an annotated list of suggested readings, and discussion questions. This new edition comes with extensive summary statements in the text margins, as study aids. Essentials of Conservation Biology, Sixth Edition is beautifully illustrated in full colour, and is written in clear, non-technical language, making it well-suited for undergraduate courses.