This new textbook fills an important niche by offering a lively overview of the principles of ecology for a broad range of university-level science and biology courses. Written for those who need to understand key ecological concepts but may specialise in other fields, it is filled with many vivid examples of topical issues and current events.
The Ecological World View briefly covers the history of ecology and describes the general approach of the scientific method, then takes a wide-ranging look at basic principles of population dynamics and applies them to everyday practical problems.
Each chapter clearly presents key concepts and learning objectives, combined with thought-provoking, open-ended questions to facilitate discussion. Stimulating, appealing and written in non-technical language, this is an essential resource for understanding how the ecological world works.
Discussion of such topics as human population growth, pest control in agriculture, the world’s fisheries, and conservation biology
Extensive full-colour illustrations, photographs, clear graphics, and other visual aids
An excellent introductory discussion of scientific methodology
Detailed case studies of both field and laboratory research from around the globe
Preface
An Introduction to Ecology
Geographic Ecology
What Limits Geographic Distribution?
Behavioral Ecology: Evolution in Action
Population dynamics—Abundance in Space
Population Dynamics—Abundance in Time
Negative Species Interactions—Predation, Herbivory and Competition
Negative Species Interactions—Infection and Parasitism
Positive Interaction Between Species—Mutualism and Commensalism
Population Regulation and the Balance of Nature
Community Dynamics—Succession
Community Dynamics—Biodiversity
Community Dynamics—Food Webs
Community Dynamics—Disturbance Ecology
Ecosystem Ecology—Energy Flows and Production
Ecosystem Ecology—Nutrient Recycling
Landscape Ecology—Intermingled Ecosystems
Harvesting Populations—How to Fish Sustainably
Pest Control: Why We Cannot Eliminate Pests
Conservation Biology: Endangered Species and Ecosystems
Ecosystem Health and Human Impacts
References
Index
"This is a delightful book, well illustrated, clearly written, informative, and well structured. It gives an overview of ecological theory and is illustrated with examples from all over the world. Textbooks in ecology and biology often have a strong temperate northern hemisphere focus, and I especially liked the inclusion of many examples and photos from Australia and New Zealand in this book. The content is topical and up to date, and the layout is logical and well structured. The writing style is very accessible, and the graphics are clear and designed to tweak the interest of readers. I especially liked the 'in the news' essays, an exciting way to introduce concepts to students. There are also many beautiful photos of animals, plants, and landscapes. As a result, this is a fascinating book to browse through and hard to put down."
Helen Wallace, Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 18 No 3, 2011
"I consider The Ecological World View to be the next generation of such venerable textbooks because it is written in a nontechnical language, yet it covers the history of ecology and its scientific methodology accurately and lucidly. Thus, the science of ecology is made accessible to those who would be concerned and informed environmentalists, regardless of their field of study. Few textbooks can accomplish this objective." Gary W Barrett, BioScience, April 2009
"The book is an excellent read . . . While the book is suitable for students of all biological disciplines including agriculture, medicine and biotechnology, it is also essential reading for anyone, professional or amateur, who has an interest in how the natural world works." Carol M. Duffus, Experimental Agriculture, vol. 45, Issue 1, January 2009
Dr Charles Krebs is Emeritus Professor of Zoology at the University of British Columbia and Professor in Ecology at the Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra. He has carried out ecological research in Australia and North America for nearly fifty years on mammalian populations and on communities of vertebrates in northern Canada, and has published three ecology textbooks.
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