9780711259652

Whether you're looking to save the planet or learn more about your local environment, 30-Second Ecology introduces you to the diversity, behaviours and challenges within our ecosystem.

Part of the 30-Second series, this introductory guide to ecology is split into 7 chapters that cover:

Evolution & Ecology
Behavioural Ecology
Population Ecology
Communities & Landscapes
Biomes & Biodiversity
Applied Ecology
Ecology in a Changing World

Plus profiles of notable ecologists, such as Robert H. Macarthur, Rachel Carson and Wangari Maathai.

Each topic is summarised in 300 words with one image, helping you understand the subject at great speed. Written by professors and experts from around the world, this book shows us that humans are truly part of this global ecology, not a separate entity from it and our collective actions have far-reaching ramifications on the environment around us.

If you like this, you might also be interested in 30-Second Zoology . . .

Mark Fellowes is a Professor of Ecology at the University of Reading whose research interests include insect ecology and the effects of urbanization.

Introduction

Evolution & Ecology
GLOSSARY
Natural selection
Making new species
Counting species
Profile: Daniel H. Janzen
Habitats & niches
Life history trade-offs

Behavioural Ecology
GLOSSARY
Sexual selection
Mating systems
Costs of reproduction
Defence & counter-defence
Group living
Kin selection
Profile: William D. Hamilton

Population Ecology
GLOSSARY
Population distributions
Dispersal
Limits to population growth
Profile: Paul R. Ehrlich
Cycling populations
Metapopulations
Eating . . .
. . . And being eaten
Parasites
Competition
Mutual benefits

Communities & Landscapes
GLOSSARY
Energy flows
Nutrient cycles
Keystone species
Indirect effects
Disturbance & resilience
Ecological succession
Species-area relationship
Island biogeography
Profile: Robert H. MacArthur

Biomes & Biodiversity
GLOSSARY
Global patterns of biodiversity
Oceans
Freshwaters
Tundra & boreal forests
Temperate forests & grasslands
Tropical forests & savanna
Profile: Wangari Maathai
Deserts

Applied Ecology
GLOSSARY
Valuing biodiversity
Ecosystem services
Soil ecology
Pollination & society
Biological control
Vectors of disease
Overharvesting
Conservation biology
Profile: Rachel Carson

Ecology in a Changing World
GLOSSARY
The sixth mass extinction
Climate change
Urban ecosystems
Human-wildlife conflict
Profile: Raman Sukumar
Nature-deficit disorder
Rewilding

Appendices
Resources
Notes on contributors
Index
Acknowledgements

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

30-Second Ecology 50 key concepts and challenges, each explained in half a minute

30-Second Ecology 50 key concepts and challenges, each explained in half a minute

0711259658

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials