Synopses & Reviews
This introductory general ecology text features a strong emphasis on helping students grasp the main concepts of ecology while keeping the presentation more applied than theoretical. An evolutionary perspective forms the foundation of the entire discussion. The book begins with the natural history of the planet, considers portions of the whole in the middle chapters, and ends with another perspective of the entire planet in the concluding chapter. Its unique organization of focusing only on several key concepts in each chapter sets it apart from the competition.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction to Ecology: Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers Section I Natural History and Evolution 2 Life on Land 3 Life and Water 4 Population Genetics and Natural Selection Section II Adaptations to the Environment 5 Temperature Relations 6 Water Relations 7 Energy and Nutrient Relations 8 Social Relations Section III Population Ecology 9 Population Distribution and Abundance 10 Population Dynamics 11 Population Growth 12 Life Histories Section IV Interactions 13 Competition 14 Exploitative Interactions: Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, and Disease 15 Mutualism Section V Communities and Ecosystems 16 Species Abundance and Diversity 17 Species Interactions and Community Structure 18 Primary Production and Energy Flow 19 Nutrient Cycling and Retention 20 Succession and Stability Section VI Large-Scale Ecology 21 Landscape Ecology 22 Geographic Ecology 23 Global Ecology