First Ecology: Ecological Principles and Enviromental Issues - Softcover

Beeby, Alan; Brennan, Anne-Marie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199298084 ISBN 13: 9780199298082

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2008

Synopsis

First Ecology: Ecological Principles and Environmental Issues provides a critical and evaluative introduction to the science of ecology. Alan Beeby and Anne-Maria Brennan present a succinct survey of ecology, describing and explaining the relationship between living organisms and their environment.

In sequence, First Ecology develops the core themes of ecology at each level of organization - subcellular, population, ecosystem, landscape, and planetary. Understanding this hierarchy - and the interplay between these levels - is crucial to the environmental decisions our species faces at the start of the twenty-first century.

Distinctive Features

- Assumes little background knowledge and leads students gradually into the subject to build understanding, making it ideal for students from a range of disciplines.
- Detailed examples and case studies build on principles introduced in the text, thus allowing students to see ecological techniques in action.
- An Online Resource Center (password protected) offers instructors a virtual field course comprised of exercises using real data to assist and enrich students' time in the field; figures from the book, available to download to facilitate lecture preparation; PowerPoint slides introducing key concepts, supported with integrated figures from the book; and answers to exercises provided in the book. For students, the site provides hyperlinks to the primary literature cited in the book, and a web link library of all the URLs included in the book, together with additional web links on specific topics.

About this title

About the Author

Alan Beeby is Reader in Ecology in the Department of Engineering, Science, and the Built Environment, London South Bank University, UK
Anne-Maria Brennan is Deputy Head of the Department of Engineering, Science, and the Built Environment, London South Bank University, UK

Review

`Review of this edition:
'The way technical terms are introduced in context rather than by formal definition is excellent - students are much more likely to understand terms presented this way.'

'
Dr Simon Cragg, University of Portsmouth, UK

`Review of this edition:
'Clearly, this textbook would be an excellent choice for those who are relatively new in the field of ecology, but want to focus on both principles and applications of ecology.'

'
Dr. Zhi-Qing Lin, Southern Illinois University, USA

`Review of this edition:
'For the student, the text is written in a clear easy-to-read style with ample images, descriptive figures and tables and interesting case studies. It is likely that elements of Beeby and Brennan's refreshing approach will influence more detailed ecology texts for years to come.'

'
Dr Andy Le Brocque, University of Southern Queensland, Australia

`Review from the previous edition:
'It is rare to find a textbook written in such an entertaining, yet scientifically acceptable way. The book does not assume anything from the reader apart from a lively and enquiring mind and an interest in the world around them.'

'
Dr Chris Joyce, University of Brighton, UK

`Review from the previous edition:
'This book is an outstanding introduction to ecology.'
Usefulness to students ****
Usefulness to teachers ****

'
Journal of Biological Education, Vol. 40, No. 2, Spring 2006

`Review from the previous edition:
'It is so readable it is almost a page turner...the exercises at the end of each chapter provide a realistic and interesting set of questions, presented with a sense of humour...I will recommend this text to my students.'

'
Dr Tony Andrew, THES 25/02/05

`Review from the previous edition:
'The holistic and non-technical approach taken in First Ecology is effective and appropriate for many introductory courses in ecology and environmental science. First Ecology is very broad in scope and ambitious in its objectives. It is also effective at weaving a diverse array of topics into a
fairly cohesive text.'

'
Dr Mark Grover, Southern Utah University, USA

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0199298084
• ISBN 13: 9780199298082
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 432