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Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Chapter 1 What is Ecology -- Chapter 2 The History of Ecology -- Chapter 3 Biodiversity -- Chapter 4 Food Chains -- Chapter 5 Environments, Habitats, and Biomes -- Chapter 6 Natural Resources -- Chapter 7 Kinds of Ecology -- Chapter 8 Threats to the Ecosystem -- Chapter 9 Climate Change -- Chapter 10 Solutions -- Glossary -- Index -- Primary Source List -- Websites -- Back Cover

Long ago when people still lived in caves-perhaps at the same time when they developed habits that were different from those of other animals- humans began to practice ecology. They became keen observers of nature through such basic and instinctive actions as tracking both large wild animals and small prey, discerning edible plants from poisonous ones, and noting the time of year when different plants could be gathered. From necessity and inherent curiosity, humans began to learn about the relationships between living things and the environment. As the field of ecology grew, its focus went beyond the simple cataloging of living things in the world. Ecologists also became interested in understanding how living things function and how they interrelate with one another and with the environment-to explain that peculiar element that makes the Earth unique: life. We will begin by learning what ecology is and what it is not. (At times the word has been used incorrectly as a synonym for environmental protection.) Later, we will look at how living things are classified, before moving into the study of the environments in which they live: the land, water, and air.

Updated for 2013, Ecology is one title in the Britannica Illustrated Science Library Series. Long ago when people still lived in caves-perhaps at the same time when they developed habits that were different from those of other animals- humans began to practice ecology. They became keen observers of nature through such basic and instinctive actions as tracking both large wild animals and small prey, discerning edible plants from poisonous ones, and noting the time of year when different plants could be gathered. From necessity and inherent curiosity, humans began to learn about the relationships between living things and the environment. As the field of ecology grew, its focus went beyond the simple cataloging of living things in the world. Ecologists also became interested in understanding how living things function and how they interrelate with one another and with the environment-to explain that peculiar element that makes the Earth unique: life. We will begin by learning what ecology is and what it is not. (At times the word has been used incorrectly as a synonym for environmental protection.) Later, we will look at how living things are classified, before moving into the study of the environments in which they live: the land, water, and air.

Political ecology has often defined itself against Eurocentric conceptions of the world. Nevertheless, recent contributions have questioned the ongoing reproduction of an Anglo-American mainstream against 'other political ecologies'. Decentering Anglo-American political ecology has therefore forced a greater recognition of traditions that have developed under the same banner, albeit in different linguistic or national contexts. In addition, thinking more about the situatedness of knowledge claims has forced a deeper questioning of the Eurocentric and colonial production of political ecological research. In this report I begin by reviewing a range of political ecological traditions before going on to look at decolonial moves within the field. I conclude by considering how political ecologists might reframe their practice as one of relational comparison.

"This book is unique in focusing on nonequilibrium aspects of ecology, providing evidence for nonequilibrium and equilibrium in populations (and metapopulations), in extant communities and in ecological systems over evolutionary time, including nonequilibrium due to recent and present mass extinctions. The assumption that competition is of overriding importance is central to equilibrium ecology, and much space is devoted to its discussion. As communities of some taxa appear to be shaped more by competition than others, an attempt is made to find an explanation for these differences."--Jacket

The further scholarship investigates life forms (ecology, evolutionary biology and microbiology) the less those forms can be said to have a single, independent and lasting identity. The further scholarship delves into texts (deconstruction) the less they too can be said to have a single, independent and lasting identity. This similarity is not simply an analogy. Life forms cannot be said to differ in a rigorous way from texts. On many levels and for many reasons, deconstruction and ecology should talk to one another. It is interesting to contemplate an entangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other, and dependent on each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting around us. (Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 395–396)

"Despite their often dangerous and unpredictable nature, landslides provide fascinating templates for studying how soil organisms, plants, and animals respond to such destruction. The emerging field of landslide ecology helps us to understand these responses, aiding slope stabilization and restoration and contributing to progress made in geological approaches to landslide prediction and mitigation. Summarizing the growing body of literature on the ecological consequences of landslides, this book provides a framework for the promotion of ecological tools in predicting, stabilizing, and restoring biodiversity to landslide scars at both local and landscape scales. It explores nutrient cycling; soil development; and how soil organisms disperse, colonize, and interact in what is often an inhospitable environment. Recognizing the role that these processes play in providing solutions to the problem of unstable slopes, the authors present ecological approaches as useful, economical, and resilient supplements to landslide management"--

This full-color illustrated textbook offers the first comprehensive introduction to all major aspects of tropical ecology. It explains why the world's tropical rain forests are so universally rich in species, what factors may contribute to high species richness, how nutrient cycles affect rain forest ecology, and how ecologists investigate the complex interrelationships among flora and fauna. It covers tropical montane ecology, riverine ecosystems, savanna, dry forest--and more. Tropical Ecology begins with a historical overview followed by a sweeping discussion of biogeography and evolution, and then introduces students to the unique and complex structure of tropical rain forests. Other topics include the processes that influence everything from species richness to rates of photosynthesis: how global climate change may affect rain forest characteristics and function; how fragmentation of ecosystems affects species richness and ecological processes; human ecology in the tropics; biodiversity; and conservation of tropical ecosystems and species. Drawing on real-world examples taken from actual research, Tropical Ecology is the best textbook on the subject for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Offers the first comprehensive introduction to tropical ecology Describes all the major kinds of tropical terrestrial ecosystems Explains species diversity, evolutionary processes, and coevolutionary interactions Features numerous color illustrations and examples from actual research Covers global warming, deforestation, reforestation, fragmentation, and conservation The essential textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students Suitable for courses with a field component Leading universities that have adopted this book include: Biola University Bucknell University California State University, Fullerton Colorado

Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contents -- Chapter 1: Introduction: Mudflat Basics -- 1 Mudflat Distribution -- 2 What Is Mud? Etymology and Cognitive Associations -- 3 What Is Mud? Sediment Composition -- 4 What Is Mud? The Living Matrix -- 5 Mudflats as Systems of Superposed Emergent Properties -- References -- Chapter 2: Geological, Physical and Chemical Foundations -- 1 Geological Foundations -- 1.1 Mudflat Formation: Their Evolution in Geologic Time and Space -- 1.2 Sediment Classification and Characteristics -- 1.3 Sediment Supply -- 1.4 Geographical Distribution -- 2 Physical Processes -- 2.1 Tidal Range -- 2.2 Wave Action -- 2.3 Sediment Transport -- 3 Chemical Processes -- 3.1 The Electrochemical Environment -- 3.2 Sources of Organic Matter and Biogeochemical Cycles -- 4 Interplay Between Sediments and Biological Processes in Mudflats -- 4.1 General Concepts -- 4.2 Physical Environment-Driven Interactions -- 4.3 Biota-Driven Interactions with the Physical Environment: Biostabilization -- References -- Chapter 3: Microbiota: The Living Foundation -- 1 Biogeochemical Significance of Mudflat Microbes -- 2 Microbial Interactions -- 2.1 The `Microbial Loop´ -- 2.2 Bioturbation -- 2.3 Microbial Gardening -- 2.4 Microbial `Priming´ -- 3 Carbon-Based Isotope Techniques for Studying Mudflat Biogeochemistry -- 3.1 Bulk Isotopic (13C) Methods -- 3.2 Phospholipid Fatty Acid Techniques to Study Benthic Microbial Communities and Their Biogeochemistry -- 3.3 Stable Isotope (13C) Addition Experiments -- References -- Chapter 4: Microphytobenthic Biofilms: Composition and Interactions -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Composition and Diversity of Microphytobenthos -- 2.1 Microphytobenthos: Too Diverse to Study? -- 2.2 Diatoms -- 2.3 Cyanobacteria -- 2.4 Other MPB -- 2.5 How Should We Measure MPB Diversity?.

Preface List of Contributors Chapter 1 What is the Arctic? Kjell Danell Chapter 2 Arctic ecology -- a palaeoenvironmental perspective. Michael Pisaric and John P. Smol Chapter 3 Climate change in the Arctic. Edward Hanna, Joseph E. Nolan, James E. Overland and Richard J. Hall Chapter 4 Arctic permafrost and ecosystem functioning. Torben R. Christensen Chapter 5 Arctic tundra John Hobbie, Gaius Shaver, Toke Høye and Joseph Bowden Chapter 6 Ecology of Arctic glaciers. Alexandre M. Anesio and Johanna Laybourn-Parry Chapter 7 Ecology of Arctic lakes and ponds. Erik Jeppesen, Kirsten S. Christoffersen, Milla Rautio and Torben L. Lauridsen Chapter 8 Ecology of Arctic streams and rivers. Alexander D. Huryn Chapter 9 Ecology of Arctic pelagic communities. Malin Daase, Jørgen Berge, Janne E. Søreide and Stig Falk-Petersen Chapter 10 Ecology of Arctic sea ice. CJ Mundy and Klaus M. Meiners Chapter 11 Ecology of Arctic shallow subtidal and intertidal benthos. Paul E. Renaud, Jan Marcin Węsławski and Kathleen Conlan Chapter 12 Ecology of Arctic shelf and deep ocean benthos. Monika Kędra and Jacqueline M. Grebmeier Chapter 13 Fat, furry, flexible and functionally important: Characteristics of mammals living in the Arctic. Niels M. Schmidt, Olivier Gilg, Jon Aars and Rolf A. Ims Chapter 14 Ecology of Arctic Birds. Anthony D. Fox Chapter 15 Arctic Ecology, indigenous peoples and environmental governance. Mark Nuttall Index