Book Description

Help is on the Web!
There is more to Environment, 4e by Raven and Berg than what you see in this text. An enhanced book-specific Web site will help you further examine critical environmental issues. The Web site offers a variety of activities to help you succeed in your course and additional tools that will help you make environmentally responsible choices.
Online resources include:
* Environmental Debates provide the opportunity to learn about two sides of a contentious issue affecting the environment.
* Activity Links identify the most useful Internet links related to the environment and present short exercises that invite you to use these links to increase your understanding of the material.
* Take a Stand activities encourage you to think critically and carefully weigh the short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of a particular position relating to an environmental situation.
* Research Projects provide you with specific suggestions for topics, reading materials, research techniques, and activities.
* Case Studies highlight key issues in environmental science and lead you to related Web sites for further information.
* How to Make a Difference shows how to get involved in environmental issues and lists environmental organizations that you can join.
* Student Lounge offers valuable study tips and writing tips that will help you get a better grade.
* Quizzes and Essays test your understanding of each chapter with multiple-choice, true/false questions, and short-answer essay questions. You can email your answers and responses directly to your instructor. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Environment by John Allif
The thing that I like the most about this book is the way chemistry is incorporated into the sciences that relate to environment. It has all the basic chemistry skills required for one to be able to relate to environment at the introductory level.

The Appendix on Environmental Chemistry is very well presented. It has most of the concepts that one require in this course. It is written in short and to the point to avoid confusion, but with high clarity. That is what students appreciate. Students do not need to refer to other textbooks. The material includes all that a student need to understand the basic concepts of chemsitry as applied to environmental science.

The format is outstanding. It is best suited for students taking Environmental Science. It just delivers materials of basic interest with excellent problems and things to ponder sections. The illustrations are superb.

Students are often frustrated with voluminous information. They usually buy a book and are turned off and do not read it. They need concise and just the right stuff in it. This book has that quality. Students would love it and I am glad it is on the market.

It was a delight reading this study guide. Excellent job! It just does a good service to students. ... Read more

Book Description

A Primer of Ecology, Third Edition, presents a concise but detailed exposition of the most common mathematical models in population and community ecology. It is intended to demystify ecological models and the mathematics behind them by deriving the models from first principles. The book may be used as a self-teaching tutorial by students, as a primary textbook, or as a supplemental text to a general ecology textbook.

The Primer explains in detail basic concepts of exponential and logistic population growth, age-structured demography, metapopulation dynamics, competition, predation, island biogeography, and, in a chapter new to this edition, succession. Each chapter is carefully graded from simple material that is appropriate for beginning undergraduates to advanced material, which is suited for upper-division undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Advanced topics include environmental and demographic stochasticity, discrete population growth and chaos, stage-structured demography, intraguild predation, nonlinear predator-prey isoclines, and passive sampling. Each chapter follows the same structure: model presentation and predictions, model assumptions, model variations, empirical examples, and problems.

Essential equations are highlighted for students' use. Intermediate algebraic "expressions" are also illustrated so that students see where the equations came from. New terms are introduced in the text in boldface type to alert students to novel concepts. The Primer contains more mathematical detail than many ecology textbooks, but avoids jargon and mathematical terminology that can intimidate students. Both simple and advanced problems are included, followed by fully worked solutions so that students can gain confidence and a better understanding of the models. Citations are kept to a minimum. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Easily one of the best on the topic
Four and one half stars.

Dr. Gotelli's book is the most successful which I am familiar at "demystifying" the mathematical concepts in ecology. "A primer of ecology" is very well organized and written so as not to frighten off the uninitiated, but covers the mathematics well enough to be an adequate refresher for those that have slipped in some areas. The inclusion of ecological succession in the 3rd edition is an important addition and not merely a reason to put out a new version. I highly recommend this text to anyone who is interested in learning about ecological study, and I think it would make an excellent senior undergraduate or supplemental graduate text.

Easy to understand, but simplifies a little too much
I found this book was a really good introduction to the subject - really clearly explained and laid out, unlike some other books I have read, which start of simple and then suddenly leap off into degree-level maths! However, it does tend to simplify a little bit (would have liked a little more information on the types of discrete and continous logistics that can be used).

All in all a really good book to buy to keep your feet on the ground when learning

A clear and concise guide to population ecology
Gotelli's primer is an extremely easy to read and understand guide to population ecology. It leads readers through the trickier mathematical derivations, and provides useful problems to illustrate the concepts

Gotelli's work is one of the best Ecology books out there!!!
I had to read Gotelli's A Primer of Ecology for my Ecology class at Brown University. I thought that it was by far the most comprehensive and easily read book used in that class. The mathematical models were always backed up with empirical evidence to several models in the field. A definate must read for all ecologists! ... Read more

Book Description

Ecological theories and hypotheses are usually complex because of natural variability in space and time, which often makes the design of experiments difficult. This book describes how to design ecological experiments from a statistical basis using analysis of variance, so reliable conclusions can be drawn. The logical procedures that lead to a need for experiments are described, followed by an introduction to simple statistical tests. This leads to a detailed account of analysis of variance, looking at procedures, assumptions, and problems. One-factor analysis is extended to nested (hierarchical) designs and factorial analysis. Finally, some regression methods for examining relationships between variables are covered. Examples of ecological experiments are used throughout to illustrate the procedures and examine problems. This book will be invaluable to practicing ecologists as well as advanced students involved in experimental design. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

essential book for ecologists
This book was one of the best purchases I made upon starting my graduate career. It is extremely well written and de-mystifies the process of hypothesis testing and experimental design and analysis. I consider this book a must for anyone starting out in the field of ecology who has questions about experimental design or analysis.

An outstanding book with a clear leanguage.
Anyone has experience the fear of start reading any statistical book because most of the classic text always confuse us with very sophisticated formulas and terms. Underwood book for me is written in a extreme clear leanguage and examples. I teach this kind of courses and my students find easy to use even if is a foreign leanguage to us. I hope this would help you. Regards, Rafael.

good to read, great to review
This is really an excellent book. Concepts are presented in a straightforward and intuitive way. This is great for getting concepts the first time and also works really well as a review/reference text. Anyone who has felt frustrated while using Biometry (Sokal and Rohlf) to learn an unfamiliar statistical concept related to ANOVA should consider this book. It is a good complementary text to that one. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Used in UGA graduate class
This book is actually used as one of two required textbooks for my graduate-level Ecology class at the Institute of Ecology at The University of Georgia. It is a great collection of foundational papers in Ecology for anyone interested in this area of study. It is an excellent reference resource to have handy for any serious Ecology student, professor, fanatic, etc.

A Must Have for any serious student
Nearly a decade ago my colleague Bill Drury and I ran into each other in the hall, each of us waving this book & on the way to give it to the other. We had both been teaching out of endless stacks of xeroxes of xeroxes because neither of us had any time for conventioal textbooks. Bless Real & Brown for putting together not only some really key papers but also intelligent thoughtful commentary by some of the leading lights in the field. I have used the book ever since it came out & my students find it a valuable resource to take off to grad school. I must admit that while the selection is lovely there ARE some missing pieces & the xeroxes of xeroxes haven't altogether disappeared, but this is far and away the best out there to date. So, when can we expect the 2nd addition?

important contribution to theoretical ecology
there are not many books on the theoretical background of ecology available, yet. hence, "foundations of ecology" is a valuable contribution to the discussion on ecological (self-)identity. not only are the papers selected of great importance on their own, the additional introductory sequences also succeed to put pieces together, to display the broad horizont and context, in which they ought to be understood, and show the contemporary view of historical scientific work. a lot of my personal theoretical considerations would have been impossible without information and motivation this book offered. ... Read more

Book Description

Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination differs from all other books on seed germination. It is an all-encompassing volume that provides a working hypothesis of the ecological and environmental conditions under which various kinds of seed dormancy have developed. It also presents information on the seed germination of more than 3500 species of trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous species, making this a valuable reference for anyone studying germination.
This book delivers information on characteristics of each type of seed dormancy, how each type of dormancy is broken in nature, and what environmental conditions are required for germination after dormancy is broken. It explains how studies should be done to distinguish persistent from transient seed banks, and covers which species should be controlled, propagated, and conserved. Seeds gives the reader insight and guidelines for doing ecologically meaningful studies on the biogeography and evolution of seed dormancy and germination in order to better understand plant reproductive strategies, life history traits, adaptations to habitats, and physiological processes.

Key Features
* Evolutionary/phylogenetic origins and relationships of various kinds of seed dormancy
* A world biogeographical perspective on seed dormancy and germination
* Ecophysiology of seeds with each type of dormancy
* Critical evaluation of methodology used in soil seed bank studies
* Germination ecology of plants with specialized habitat and life cycle types
* Genetic and maternal preconditioning effects on seed dormancy and germination
* Guidelines for doing ecologically-meaningful germination studies ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Outstanding contribution in seed dormancy and germination .
An amazing book from a peer couple of seed science and technology. Weed seed ecology is my field and it always facinated me, that how a plant showed his strategy against humen interference in its life cycle. This bookis clearly answered these question by differentways. I reallycongratulate the honorable authors for there real contribution in seedscience. ... Read more

Book Description

Nowhere on Earth is the challenge for ecological understanding greater, and yet more urgent, than in those parts of the globe where human activity is most intense - cities. People need to understand how cities work as ecological systems so they can take control of the vital links between human actions and environmental quality, and work for an ecologically and economically sustainable future. An ecosystem approach integrates biological, physical and social factors and embraces historical and geographical dimensions, providing our best hope for coping with the complexity of cities. This book is the first of its kind to bring together leaders in the biological, physical and social dimensions of urban ecosystem research with leading education researchers, administrators and practitioners, to show how an understanding of urban ecosystems is vital for urban dwellers to grasp the fundamentals of ecological and environmental science, and to understand their own environment. ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition of Whitmore's classic introduction to tropical rain forests has been comprehensively revised and updated, reflecting the changes which have taken place since it was first published in 1990. The sections on human impact have been extended to include a new global assessment of deforestation as well as details of new research on biodiversity and conservation. Discussion of the future of the rain forests and priorities for action is incorporated. The book remains unique in linking rain forest biology and ecology with silviculture, and with concerns over sustainable resource utilization and the future of the tropical rain forests. It includes sections on the diverse animal and plant life forms which are found in the rain forest, and the interconnections between them. Nutrient cycles and forest dynamics are fully explained, with new data on ecophysiology and forest microclimates. The geologic and climatic history of rain forests, and the wide-spread canopy disturbances now understood to have occurred in the past, are explored. Accessibly written, and illustrated throughout with line-drawings and photographs, this is a must for biology and geography students, and anyone else who seeks to know more about the nature and importance of the world's tropical rain forests. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

this book was very enriching and enlightening, spiritual
It was a book that helped me gain knowledge but it also made me want to go out and explore it, it was fabulous Icould hardly put it down and it helped a lot with my research paper. Thanks ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good hagiography of a controversial man
This is a good introduction to the theories and life of Viktor Schauberger, an Austrian naturalist and inventor. Born in 1885, Schauberger started life as a forester who tried to understand and copy Nature. From watching mountain streams he developed unorthodox theories based on vortex movement about water and its use. He started out designing highly efficient log flumes that used water in vortex motion and at its densest temperature of 4 degrees Centigrade. He then proposed cleaning up the Rhine River by rebuilding the natural curves which stimulate vortex motion in the water. He said that this vortex motion in the Earth caused spring water to be more alive than plain water. He believed that plants grew better in this living water and developed laboratory sized egg-shaped water energizers to activate water.

He also developed theories about the harmfulness of iron and steel tools in agriculture and proposed replacing them with copper ones. He designed an egg-shaped composter that was supposed to develop Noble compost which would be much more beneficial in gardens.

Around the Second World War his theories and experiments take a much different direction and he starts talking about Implosion energy as opposed to combustion explosion energy. He starts developing machines that generate more energy than they use and that run on water and air. Out of this research he claims to have developed a domestic power station that generates large outputs of energy from slight streams of running water. Even more fantastic is a flying saucer that used a 1/20 horsepower electric motor as a starter and then ran on the surrounding flow of air. The research on these inventions was destroyed at the end of the war. Schauberger and his son Walter never seem to have been able to find the resources to develop working models again.

Today his theories on vortex motion of water are taught at the Anthroposophical Emerson College in England. His copper farming tools are sold from the school his son Walter started, the Pythagoras Kepler Schule in Austria. His water, forestry, and farming theories have been accepted by Biodynamic Farming communities and may be helpful to organic farmers today.

There are two appendices at the end of the book by New Age science experts on the underlying theories of vortex energy. I find these actually detract from the book rather than help it. A Bibliography also is less than useful. Most of the sources are to obscure journals or original Austrian publications. These types of resources are less than helpful in such an introductory text.

Perfect Start for anyone interested in Learning about Water
I agree that this book is only a brief introduction into the thoughts of Schauberger but hopefully many people are inspired by this book to move forward into the area of water research in an effort to uncover many more truths about what really makes water healthy.

Unfortunately there is so much...on the market, evolving around new-age water products, which in-no-way copy Mother Nature as Viktor had stressed. All these people need to purchase this book in order to obtain some form of initial clarity if they are going to be involved in water research or water products of any kind. Living-water; revitalized-water; restructured water; clustered & micro-clustered-water; alkaline water; Pi-water; crystal-water; snowflake-water; cupcake-water; energized-water; polarized-water; magnetized-water; and all the many others that are on the market have obviously never read any of Viktor's work or at least understood it. Let us all use Viktor's work as a basis to change the planet and make this world a better place to live.

An Excellent Appetizer, Please Pass the Main Course
This is an excellent, brief introduction to the thought of Viktor Schauberger, and I hope it inspires works which are more complete. Callum Coates' books reach in this direction, but what is really needed are more people to read these books, synthesize their information, and come up with new and original books which take us further into depth in these areas. This will probably involve synthesizing the work of Schauberger, Grander, Bienveniste, and others.

An understanding of Schauberger is very important for those attempting to reconstruct an Indigenous European Perspective. Schauberger has the elements of a modern water shaman, and his shamanic / intuitive techniques of letting his body float with the water should be closely correlated with what Hans Peter Duerr has to say about "out of body" experience in his tome "Dreamtime". Although Schauberger lived in the 20th Century, his perspective allows us to imagine back what earlier indigenous practitioners may have been like. The Colonial, Imperialist Europe is only one side of the coin of Europe. We must also include the suppressed indigenous, pagan, and green sides. Significantly, the Inquisition represents a watershed in European history where a great deal of the indigenous healers and theorists were wiped out in holocaust proportions. An understanding of Schauberger, coupled with an appreciation of Steiner, Hildegard of Bingen, Hans Peter Duerr, and others, will allow us to reconstruct what a noncolonial, nonimperialist Europe was like.

Understanding water's nature is essential in this regard, for water forms the basis of our understandings of flow. Furthermore, understanding water's energetic qualities will help us understand how it interacts with the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine, for example, would benefit from an accurate and holistic understanding of water's qualities.

In short, this book is an excellent appetizer, but I await the main course ...

Thought provoking intro to little-known qualities of water
Although it occasionally veers into new-age speculation or pseudoscience, this book offers a rare look at truly alternative ideas about water and energy. The description of Schauberger's early work with flumes is enthralling, and the brief exposition of "flow forms" towards the end of the book is valuable. Search "flow forms" in any web search engine to see some of the sites around the world espousing a fascinating technology that unites water pollution control with esthetics.

Great introduction to IMPLOSION and what we missed out !
I have to say - I got very AGGRAVATED by some portions of this book , because it TOTALLY agreed and expanded on my very own frustrations with our retarded "modern" technologies.

I have ALWAYS dreaded NOISE - I haven't done empirical research on this subject, but my gut instinct has led me to run from & truly hate noisy machines. I feel like someone were stabbing me when I am exposed to a Harley Davidson on the road ! The only friends I really have in this matter I think are the ANIMALS - have you ever noticed the DREAD & FEAR with which ANY animal reacts to our machines ( most notably our motors - be they lawnmowers, drilling machines ... ) Even birds totally abhor the NOISE from our aircraft & automobiles .. notice their flight, as from terror, when they are flying over traffic !

Now I see that IMPLOSION is essentially a NOISELESS phenomenon !! And this is the technology that truly supports the LIVING ! My question - FOLKS, WHEN WILL WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE NOT MACHINES ?? AND OUR SPIRITUALITY IS NOT SOME GOD-DEVIL-CRAP but a PHYSICAL manifestation of the higher ????

" They have eyes, but they don't see ..... " ... Read more

Book Description

A critical, synthetic and comprehensive account offering discussion of early environments, the history of thought on land plant origins, various approaches used to study early plant evolution and the characteristics of green algae. Includes new ideas regarding evolution, comparative studies of fossil plants and carbon availability. Features abundant illustrations and an extensive bibliography. ... Read more

Book Description

From the world-famous Machu Picchu Incan ruins high in the Andes Mountains to Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and to the Iquitos area of Amazonian northeastern u, ecotravellers want to experience tropical forests and other stunning habitats and catch glimpses of exotic wildlife: toucans and parrots, monkeys and anteaters, frogs and toads, crocodiles and snakes. This book is all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about Peru's magnificent animal and plant life. The authors, professional biologists, selected color illustrations of more than 500 of Peru's most common insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals - the species you are most likely to see. In one easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated book, you will have a constant companion on your journey.

Peru's biodiversity is considered to be among the greatest on Earth. In southeastern Peru, on the east slope of the Andes and descending into the Amazonian lowlands, biodiversity has been studied extensively during the past 20 years. More than 300,000 people visit Peru each year, and the number of ecotourists who visit specifically for bird watching, etc., is steadily rising due to the abundant offering of wildlife that Peru has to offer.

Key Features:
* Identifying and location information on the most frequently seen animals
* Up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of the animals
* Information on Peru's habitats and on the most common plants you will encounter
* Brief descriptions of Peru's most frequently visited parks and reserves ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A good place to start
I purchased this book to take with me to the Manu Reserve in Peru. It offered a very nice overview of the wildlife of the area, though I did see quite a few birds, reptiles and mammals that were not included. The illustrations and narratives are well done.
I wish the section on snakes was larger and the guide just touched on plant life.
My biggest wish is that the insect section would be expanded. There are 1,000 kinds of butterfly in Manu alone, yet the guide hardly touched the subject.
An all inclusive guide to all the plants, insects and wildlife would be far from portable, so if you are looking for a travel guide this does its job nicely. Hopefully you can carry this and let your guide haul around the Birds of Ecuador and other more comprehensive guides. ... Read more

Book Description

The emerging multidisciplinary field of earth system science sets out to improve our understanding functioning ecosystems, at a global level across the entire planet. Stable Isotopes and Biosphere - Atmosphere Interactions looks to one of its most powerful toolsthe application of stable isotope analysesto understanding biosphere-atmosphere exchange of the greenhouse gases, and synthesizes much of the recent progress in this work.

Stable Isotopes and Biosphere - Atmosphere Interactions describes recent progress in understanding the mechanisms, processes and applications of new techniques. It makes a significant contribution to the emerging, multidisciplinary study of the Earth as an interacting system.This book will be an important reference for students and researchers in biology, ecology, biogeochemistry, meteorology, and atmospheric science and will be invaluable for anyone with any interest in the future of the planet.

* Describes applications of new stable isotope techniques to the emerging fields of earth system science and global change
* Illustrates advances in scaling of physiological processes from leaf/soil to the global scale
* Contains state-of-the-art, critical reviews written by international researchers and experts ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Lakes Handbook
This book is the first of a two part series, edited by P. E. O'Sullivan of the School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth and C. S. Reynolds of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Windermere. The purpose of the book is "to provide a sort of turn-of-the-century progress report, which brings together the most recent perspectives on the interactions among the properties of water, the distinguishing features of individual basins and the dynamic interactions with their biota". The immediate inspiration for this book came from the Rivers Handbook, and it has attempted to follow the same organisational structure.

The objective of the book was to provide a point of reference for students and professionals alike, to provide a contemporary and accurate reflection of current understanding about lakes and lake ecosystem function. Overall, the book does provide a complete comprehensive account of the different physical and chemical natures of lakes worldwide. With 18 sections to the book, it contains extensive information that is kept concise throughout the content. The sections are sub divided into logical categories, and are not overloaded in each division in most sections. The quantity of helpful and clear conceptual diagrams and tables help to illustrate and explain the text. They are appropriately linked to the topic of the chapter and they assist in breaking up pages into more manageable reading. The extent of the references available at the end of each section makes it easy for the reader to identify further reading quickly and accurately. Because of the assortment of specialist writers contributing to the book, the sections differ in their coverage and complexity of the section subject and in their ease of reading. The book takes a general look at a thorough range of topics, whilst managing to be specialised at the divisions.

The book ranges in its content, and although some chapters would be a nice read for the beginner, I think the book would be ideally suited to professionals and advanced students who already have a background understanding and that are familiar with some aspect of lake ecology, and wish to build upon that knowledge to a more advanced level. The presence of chapters slightly more complex in the explanations, especially those chapters working through complex mathematical equations makes parts of the book quite hard going at times. A novice could be easily distracted by sophisticated and complex descriptive terminology in some chapters.

Conclusion
This is a well-structured and highly informative book, although on the whole slightly advanced for the beginner in lake ecology. For a more sophisticated learner, this is a nice concise book, with manageable chapters in a variety of specialist subject areas. The book, written by highly knowledgeable specialists in the area of lake research stands up to its promise of delivering "the most recent perspectives on the interactions among the properties of water, the distinguishing features of individual basins and the dynamic interactions with their biota". It does also provide contemporary and accurate reflection of current lake understanding, but has not really managed to cater for the less advanced student in the majority of the book. However, as far as a book specifically dedicated to the ecosystem functioning of lakes alone, there are not many other books that cater for this demand, and so this book will most likely become one of the major reference books for this subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Amphibians and reptiles are the most numerous, diverse, and frequently encountered animals on the Caribbean islands. This book provides a variety of perspectives on this amazing group of organisms. Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles, compiled by an international team of zoologists, takes a fresh and detailed look at the complex biological puzzle of the Caribbean. The first true overview of the islands, it includes a historical examination of the people who have studied the Caribbean amphibians and reptiles. The book reviews the ecology, evolutionary history, and biogeographic explanations for the origins and diversity of the region's fauna with island-by-island coverage. It puts the Caribbean in perspective by comparing the islands to Central America and its amphibian reptile diversity. Additionally, the book includes figures, tables, and color plates which bring to life some of the region's most spectacular creatures.

Key Features
* Presents the first complete review of amphibians and reptiles in the Caribbean
* Includes color plates and island maps
* Contributors are recognized authorities in the field ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Bahamas are not part of the Caribbean
I am not a customer but the editor of the book. I just noticed the review that complains the volume left out a key part of the Caribbean, the Bahamas. Interestingly enough, the Bahamas are in the Atlantic Ocean and not in nor border the Caribbean Sea.

Excludes a large part of the Caribbean, the Bahama Islands
A book on this subject is a welcome addition to the library of any herpetologist. However, this book has a number of shortcomings including its exclusion of the entire Bahama archipelago. A book with this title should include these islands with their endangered species. The book includes 8 color plates each with up to 11 color photos of native species. Unfortunately, a number of the captions do not match the photos on the plates making them useless to the uninitiated.

This book will be useful, however the typos and missing geographic coverage along with the unusually high price for such a small book are definite drawback.

This is a college-level, acedemic textbook and not a field guide which may account for its price. ... Read more

Book Description

Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists is an introductory textbook for a course on geometric morphometrics, written for graduate students and upper division undergraduates, covering both theory of shape analysis and methods of multivariate analysis.It is designed for students with minimal math background; taking them from the process of data collection through basic and more advanced statistical analyses.Many examples are given, beginning with simple although realistic case-studies, through examples of complex analyses requiring several different kinds of methods.The book also includes URL's for free software and step-by-step instructions for using the software.

* Accessible, student-tested introduction to sophisticated methods of biological shape analysis
* Detailed instructions for conducting analyses with freely available, easy to use software
* Numerous illustrations; including graphical presentations of important theoretical concepts and demonstrations of alternative approaches to presenting results
* Many realistic examples, both simple and complex, from on-going research
* Comprehensive glossary of technical terms ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Way behind
This book is about 20 years behind in ecological theory.

A "must have" text for ecology
An excellent book for the principles of ecology, especially community and population ecology. Provides an introduction to all the basic concepts in ecology and reviews all the milestone studies in the field. Further, it indicates recent trends in research in the field. The language has been kept simple and equations listed are explained very well. Graphs, pictures and diagrams support the the text and useful in enlightening the reader on key concepts. I would say that it is currently the best text book available in ecology for students and ecologists ... Read more

Book Description

Ecological diversity, or the variety and abundance of species in different habitats and communities, is one of the central themes of ecology. However, much of the existing literature on this subject is diffuse, often confusing, and in many cases complicated by unnecessarily difficult mathematics. This book aims to provide a succinct and clear summary of the relevant literature and a practical guide to the measurement of diversity.

The author discusses the methods of describing ecological diversity in conjunction with specific recommendations for the selection and interpretation of diversity measures. In addition, she considers the sampling problems often encountered in ecological censusing. The work concludes with a discussion of the empirical value of diversity measures. A special feature that makes the book particularly accessible to readers without great expertise in mathematics is the inclusion of worked examples of the main diversity measures and models. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent book, makes easy the use of diversity indexes
It is a well planed and designed book; it takes away the fuzz of calculating the diversity indexes. A new edition would be welcome, in order to include the advances in the subject. I strongly recommend this book. There is a spanish translation. ... Read more

Book Description

The study of evolutionary adaptation returns to the center stage of biology with this important volume. This innovative treatise discusses new developments in adaptation, with new methods, and new theoretical foundations, achievements, and prospects for a rich intellectual future. Once again adaptation is established as a fundamental cornerstone of evolution by means of natural selection. This is an insightful reintroduction to the themes that Darwin and his successors regarded as central to any profound understanding of biology.

Key Features
* Wide-ranging and comprehensive coverage of adaptation
* Thoroughly reviews adaptation in an up-to-date and advanced treatment
* Includes contributions by leading authorities
* Encourages various conflicting viewpoints ... Read more

Book Description

Biogeography was stuck in a "natural history phase" dominated by the collection of data, the young Princeton biologists Robert H. MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson argued in 1967. In this book, the authors developed a general theory to explain the facts of island biogeography. The theory builds on the first principles of population ecology and genetics to explain how distance and area combine to regulate the balance between immigration and extinction in island populations. The authors then test the theory against data. The Theory of Island Biogeography was never intended as the last word on the subject. Instead, MacArthur and Wilson sought to stimulate new forms of theoretical and empirical studies, which will lead in turn to a stronger general theory. Even a third of a century since its publication, the book continues to serve that purpose well. From popular books like David Quammen's Song of the Dodo to arguments in the professional literature, The Theory of Island Biogeography remains at the center of discussions about the geographic distribution of species. In a new preface, Edward O. Wilson reviews the origins and consequences of this classic book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

dated, but excellent for seeing where the field began
This is a wonderful book that spawned a new sub-field in ecology as well as providing a major theoretical approach to conservation issues. Island biogeography provided us with a new way to view biodiversity as it related to space. A wonderful book.

Reprint of MacArthur's and Wilson's Seminal Ecological Tome
Originally published as part of the Princeton University Press' Monographs in Population Biology series, Robert MacArthur's and Edward O. Wilson's "Theory Of Island Biogeography" is regarded by many as the most influential tome in theoretical ecology published in the latter half of the 20th Century. Its importance is due to its success in predicting the causes and outcomes of variations in species diversity across a wide range of habitats, not only tropical islands. Furthermore it is the underlying theory behind current research in conservation biology. And it has played a magnificient role in analyzing fluctuations in taxonomic diversity from both marine and continental fossil records across the span of more than half a billion years of Earth history. MacArthur and Wilson conceived of a simple, yet conceptually fruitful equilibrium model of species diversity, recognizing that species diversity is often in a state of flux between varying rates of species immigration (or perhaps, speciation) and extinction. This then novel way at looking at species diversity combined MacArthur's sound mathematical reasoning with Wilson's excellent field biogeographic research (Yet those who are not mathematically inclined should not feel intimidated; their theoretical arguments are made through lucid, exquisite prose.). Without a doubt, their equilibrium theory of island biogeography is one of the finest achievements of 20th Century ecology.

The young lion revisited
Robert McArthur was on he knew was his last speaking trip across the country when I heard him in Boulder in the winter of 1974. He didn't talk about death; he talked about life and how it works. He wrote one short equation on the blackboard, then talked about it for an hour. No long after he was dead, but he was the real young lion, he changed ecology forever. His start was simple: look at avifauna in terms of foliage height diversity, but he did not stop there.

Wilson? He's brilliant in his own way, of course, but I'm betting his contribution to Island Biogeography was criticism and editing.

People have spent a lot of time attacking parts of this book, an equation here, an equation there. And if you don't like equations at all, skip them and go for the ideas. This was the seminal book, the start of the New Era, where complex ideas can be encapsulated in a brief expression, then turned around and it's implications tested. It will teach you how to think. ... Read more

Book Description

Radiotelemetry and Animal Populations is a succinct synthesis ofemerging technologies and their applications to the empirical and theoretical problems of population assessment. The book is divided into sections designed to encompass the various aspects of animal ecology that may be evaluated using radiotelemetry technology - experimental design, equipment and technology, animal movement, resource selection, and demographics. Wildlife biologists at the leading edge of new developments in the technology and its application have joined forces. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Radio Tracking and Animal Populations
Radio tracking and animal populations covers all aspects of radio tracking wild animals, from designing the study right through to analyzing results and drawing conclusion from the findings. I have found this book to be the most comprehensively referenced, and in depth piece of literature on radio tracking that I have managed to locate so far.
I have constantly used this book while carrying out a telemetry study as the research for my masters degree, and recommend this book as the ideal starting point for anyone considering carying out a radio tracking study of wild animals.
My only regret concerning this book is that I didn't come across it earlier in my studies.

Good review
This a good review of radio telemetry techniques and applications. ... Read more