Description
Book SynopsisThis is a core introductory text examining basic principles of ecology for first year undergraduates. The authors have expertise in population ecology and plant ecophysiology which give the book a balanced treatment of plant and animal ecology and a strong applied and evolutionary bias.
Trade Review'I appreciated the refreshing narrative style of presentation. The reader is engaged in the material, which is well organized and clearly presented. There is a nice assortment of examples provided to illustrate and reinforce each point. The authors appear to have succeeded in reaching their intended audience.'
"Good introductory ecology texts are rare. They should stimulate further inquiry and should be topical, clear and exciting. They should be comprehensive enough to include the major principles without requiring further resources, yet should be well referenced. Examples should be relevant to the student's local environment, while reflecting biogeographical regions and world ecosystem types. Introductory Ecology comes close to satisfying all these requirements...Ecology texts often fail to travel across the Atlantic, but this volume includes authors from the US and UK - and a breadth of relevant examples given in an American textbook style - and is in my view the best to be found outside Open University texts...Overall, this is a good introduction to what is acknowleged to be a complex subject." Tony Andrew, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Times Higher Education Supplement, May 2003
Table of Contents1. The diversity of life.
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2. Global patterns of biodiversity and productivity: biomes.
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3. Interpreting ecological information.
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4. Climate and life on Earth.
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5. Interactions between individuals and the physical environment.
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6. Introducing biotic interactions and population models.
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7. Population demography and life history patterns.
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8. Interspecific competition.
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9. Predation, herbivory, parasitism and other interactions between populations.
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10. Similarities and differences in ecological interactions.
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11. Ecological communities.
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12. Ecosystems: the flux of energy and matter.
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13. The structure and composition of ecological communities.
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14. Species richness, abundance and diversity
