Essentials of Ecology 5th Ed. – G. Miller Jr., S. Spoolman (BrooksCole, 2009)
Book Description:
G. Tyler Miller’s worldwide bestsellers have evolved right along with the changing needs of the diverse student population. Focused specifically on energizing and engaging materials for students, Miller and new coauthor Scott Spoolman have been at work scrutinizing every line–enhancing, clarifying, and streamlining to reduce word density as well as updating with the very latest environmental news and research. The resulting texts are shorter, clearer, and so engaging that students will actually want to read the assignments. The ideal alternative to ecology texts that tend to be too difficult for non-majors, this succinct 11-chapter, full-color textbook covers scientific principles and concepts, ecosystems, evolution, biodiversity, population ecology, and more.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I Introduction
1 Ecology and how to do it
2 Ecology’s evolutionary backdrop
Part II Conditions and Resources
3 Physical conditions and the availability of resources
4 Climate and the world’s biomes
Part III Individuals and Populations, Communities and Ecosystems
5 Birth, death and movement
6 Interspecific competition
7 Predation, grazing and disease
8 Molecular and evolutionary ecology
Part IV Communities and Ecosystems
9 From populations to communities
10 Patterns in species richness
11 The flux of energy and matter through ecosystems
Part V Applied Issues in Ecology
12 Global biogeochemical cycles and their alteration by humans
13 Conservation ecology
14 The ecology of human population growth, disease, and food supply
NEW TO THIS EDITION
Dramatic changes have been made to the art program, freshened up with new “thought bubbles” that highlight the important takeaways from complex figures.
Structural changes to the text (now 5 sections instead of 4) and expansion of certain topics, but maintained accessible text length.
Expanded coverage of ecosystem science and biogeochemistry, including extensive attention to both terrestrial and aquatic ecology and how ecological principles apply equally to both types of environments.
Hundreds of new studies added to demonstrate both fundamental and applied aspects of ecology.
FEATURES
This text has been written with an understanding of the scope of problems facing us (the unsustainable use of ecological resources, pollution, extinctions and the erosion of natural biodiversity) and conviction that the means to counter and solve these problems depend absolutely on a proper grasp of ecological fundamentals.
Key Concepts – summarized at the beginning of each chapter.
3 categories of boxed text:
Historical landmark boxes emphasize some landmarks in the development of ecology.
Quantitative aspect boxes set aside mathematical and quantitative aspects of ecology so they do not unduly interfere with the flow of the text and can be considered at leisure.
ECOncern boxes highlight some of the applied problems in ecology, particularly those where there is a social or political dimension. In these, students will be challenged to consider some ethical questions related to the knowledge they are gaining.
Marginal headings provide signposts of where you are on your journey through each chapter – these will also be useful revision aids.
Summary and Review questions – included at the end of each chapter. Some questions are designated as challenge problems.
Essentials of Ecology , Fifth Edition
Author(s): George Tyler Miller, Scott E. Spoolman
Publisher: Cengage Learning, Year: 2008
ISBN: 0495557951
