Essentials of Ecology, 4/e (Paperback)

Essentials of Ecology presents introductory ecology in an accessible, state-of-the-art format designed to cultivate the novice student's understanding of and fascination with the natural world. In a concise, engaging style, this text outlines the essential principles of ecology from the theoretical fundamentals to their practical applications. Full color artwork, simple pedagogical features and a wide range of carefully-chosen examples make this book an ideal introduction to ecology for students at all levels.

Michael Begon - Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Robert W. Howarth - Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
Colin R. Townsend - Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

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
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