Product Description
Instead of thinking of nature as a resource to be used for human needs, deep ecology argues that the true value of nature is intrinsic. This comprehensive and wide-ranging anthology contains almost 50 articles by the leading writers and thinkers in the field, offering a broad array of perspectives on this important approach to environmentalism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Absolutely vital
Having read only the preface and the first dozen essays, I can say that this is a vitally important resource. Both as an introduction to the deep ecology movement and philosophy and, more importantly, as a resource for developing an individual program for living and acting in tune with what remains of our natural world in the 21st century. The individual essays are brief and widely sourced, approaching the topic from a variety of perspectives. Not all will resonate with every reader, but you will easily recognize and learn from the arguments that are of meaning to you.

Published in 1995, including essays written as many as 15 years earlier, the collection does include some scientific findings that have been superceded in the ensuing years. That's of little import as recent scientific findings are readily available from other sources and, in most cases, reflect conditions that actually are more dire than at the time of the writing. The real value of this volume is it's insights into underlying causes and appropriate responses. What's amazing is just how prescient these authors were 20 or 30 years ago. This collection is every bit as relevant today as when it was first published, and its insights even more critical to the future of our biosphere.

The high price is dismaying. By all means find a used copy, as I did, if the cost puts you off. And I would strongly encourage the copyright holders to make this book available via Kindle and other electronic means at a reduced price. We need this book.

In the Beginning . . .
The first words of this venerable and very important anthology of seminal papers in environmental ethics are these: "The Long-Range Deep Ecology movement emerged more or less spontaneously and informally as a philosophical and scientific social/political movement during the so-called Ecological revolution of the 1960's.Its main concern has been to bring about a paradigm shift - a shift in perception, values, and lifestyles - as a basis for redirecting the ecologically destructive path of modern industrial growth societies.Since the 1960's, the long-range Deep Ecology movement has been characterized philosophically by a move from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism, and by environmental activism."
I cite this passage because, sadly, the international corporate hegemony, its paid political operatives, and multifarious media mouthpieces have done such a deceitfully effective job of at once clouding the real issue of our desperately precarious environmental situation and reinforcing our wholly unnecessary dependence of non-renewable energy resources to the tune of record profits, that there are many people coming of age in the most literate societies in the world, who have no idea of what Deep Ecology is, not to mention such a basic distinction as that between anthropocentrism to ecocentrism.Actually, I would say that the vast majority of the planet's population is either ignorant of this distinction or acts in feigned ignorance or ignorance-based denial of it.The idea that our ultimate nurturing and sustaining parent is the Earth, that we live on borrowed time, that our first responsibility in any sort of act is consideration of our responsibility to stewardship of this planet, is generally far from most people's minds when they do act.From radical (and radically unnecessary) clear-cut to all-too common litter, as a humanity, we obviously don't get it.
The corporate think-tank seems to produce an never ending stream of ongoing rationalizations and euphemistically-coated rationales for the relentless wholesale destruction of the only home we have, and we embrace, however unwillingly in some cases, but generally unconsciously in most, the systems which enable this unremitting and mindless extirpation of the root of life to go on.
Thus, a bit of re-education on the subject, the philosophical justifications for the ecocentric worldview, might be in order.I can think of no better place to start than the 39 papers in Deep Ecology for the 21st Century, which discuss this need for a shift in our thinking as a humanity in depth.
The book is divided into five sections:What is Deep Ecology?; Historical Roots of Deep Ecology; Arne Naess on Deep Ecology and Ecosophy; Deep Ecology and Eco-Feminism, Social Ecology, the Greens, and the New Age;Wilderness, The Wild, and Conservation Biology; Toward the Twenty-First Century and Beyond: Social and Practical Implications.The book focuses particularly on work of Arne Naess (12 entries) and Gary Snyder (3 entries), two foundational voices deeply rooted in vertices in the philosophical matrix of the position.
Two of my favorite entries in this book, for various reasons, are:
1) Stephan Bodian's interview with Arne Naess, "Simple in Means, Rich in Ends" (1982) "... technology is more helpless than ever before because the technology being produced doesn't fulfill basic human needs, such as meaningful work and meaningful environment.Technical progress is sham progress because the term `technical progress' is a cultural, not a technical term.Our culture is the only one in the history of humankind in which the culture has adjusted itself to the technology rather than visa-versa." "The material standard of living should be reduced and the quality of life, in the sense of basic satisfaction in the depths of one's heart or soul, should be maintained or increased.""All the sciences are fragmentary and incomplete in relation to basic rules and norms, so it's very shallow to think that science can solve our problems.Without basic norms, there is no science.Of course, we need science ..." "A hill is never the same in a repetitious way! The development of sensitivity toward the good things of which there are enough is the true goal of education.Not that we need to limit our goals.I'm not for the simple life, except in the sense of a life simple in means but rich in goals and values."One is led to ask if environmentally exploitative corporate capitalists do not have goals and values as well? Then, while we are, at least, conscious of the possibility of choice, we evidently should focus more on what our goals and values are, why they are what they are, and what are their ultimate ramifications for us?These are fundamental questions, religious questions, if you will, but we rarely ask them directly of ourselves or in a public forum.
2) Wayland Drew's study of anti-utopian fiction, "Killing Wilderness" (1972) "Specifically ... a technological society will be totalitarian regardless of what political structures permit its development, for the essence of technique is efficiency and the autonomous individual, apt to be skeptical, irrational, and recalcitrant, is inefficient.For the general good therefore, the dangerous elements of individuality must be suppressed, and man must be severed from all the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional influences which might promote dissent.Man's integrity must be broken. He must be fragmented and reshaped to participate contentedly in the smooth functioning of the technological State - a State that is fundamentally inimical to his instinct and insulting to his intellect.In other words, the nature of man must be changed."The corporation (as a legal entity or form) is the instrument of that fragmentation and change, and its will, the dictates of the State. "In its mystery and diversity, in exuberance, decay, and fecundity, the perfection of the wilderness contrasts with the sterile and static perfection of the State.The difference between them is that between existence and life, between predictability and chance, between posturing and action.Wilderness ... will threaten the totalitarian state while they co-exist, for the separation of man from nature is imperfect so long as man might recognize that a separation has occurred.""While we are able to do so, let us note the distinction.A park is a managerial unit definable in quantitative and pragmatic terms.Wilderness is unquantifiable.Its boundaries are vague or nonexistent, its contents unknown, its inhabitants elusive.The purpose of parks is use; the earmark of wilderness is mystery.Because they serve technology, parks tend toward the predictable and static, but wilderness is infinitely burgeoning and changing because it is the matrix of life itself.When we create parks we bow to increased bureaucracy and surveillance, but when we speak for wilderness we recognize our right to fewer strictures and greater freedom.Regulated and crowded, parks will eventually fragment us, as they fragment the wilderness which makes us whole."
There are hundreds of other crucial observations in this monumental collection.My one plaint is that the eloquence of great Petra Kelley is not represented. Hopefully, this unfortuanate omission of the slain sister of all Greens will be emended in a future printing or sequel volume, which is overdue.However, these are the decisive early testaments.Please heed them.

Fairness to George Sessions
I am the brother of George Sessions and I am writing to protest
the negative, ad hominem remarks of the review by "California Climber." He says in his otherwise positive review: "Those of you who can read it without experiencing Prof Sessions have a great advantage. He put together an excellent book, unfortunately he is a real jerk. I have never had an instructor talk down to students the way he did."

George Sessions has had thousands of students over the years at Sierra College and has had, on average, excellent reviews by his students in their evaluation of his classes. His courses are very popular and he is highly thought of by most students and faculty at the college. "California Climber" disagrees, which is his right, but it is not his right to personally attack Prof. Sessions in an Amazon "review", where the attack cannot be rebutted, and especially by a former student using an anonymous pseudonym.

I asked my brother if he knew who "California Climber" was and he replied "no." But he said that over the years there have been those students who do not meet the highly demanding work required in his class and who are unhappy with their grades. He said he often uses the "Socratic" method in his classes, calling on students to explain their views, and some students do not like this. Most do. I have personally sat in on my brother's classes and found most of the students to enjoy my brother's humorous and charismatic but somewhat challenging style. Is this teaching approach for everyone? Maybe not. But it is a "cheap shot" to do what California Climber did in his review. Who really is the
"real jerk" here?

Richard Sessions

Eye Opening
I read this book because it was required for Session's Philosophy course at Sierra College. Those of you who can read it without experiencing Professor Sessions have a great advantage. He put together an excellent book, unfortunately he is a real jerk. I have never had an instructor talk down to students the way he did. That being said, Deep Ecology is a fascinating topic. Reading the essays in this book will open your eyes to a very different philosophy on life. The simple arguments carried out by main-stream environmentalists and their counterparts become almost useless. If you are looking for an alternative to the money motivated lobbying of many contemporary organizations or if you just want to read a different viewpoint, I recommend this book!

Deep Ecology for the Twenty-First Century
Absolutely spectacular anthology!I lost my copy and could barely keep from crying.Great information for those new to Deep Ecology.Terrific reading for those familiar with it. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Not Your Average Book on Amphibian Ecology or Behavior
No other book on amphibian ecology or behavior comes even close to the breadth andrigor of this work.The extraordinary wealth of real, peer-reviewed data that the author has gathered is simply staggering, and its seamless incorporation into the material is a testament to Kent Wells' unique grasp of amphibian biology.As amphibian populations face unprecedented challenges globally, it is more crucial than ever that we understand how amphibians interact with their environment, and each other, so that we may better preserve and protect their remaining populations in meaningful ways. I have no doubt that this book will remain the ultimate treatise for this task.

Its value is worth more than its weight in gold (~5lbs)
The author invested more than 20yrs in its making, and I would have to invest equal time to write a review that compliments this book enough!To say this book is too technical blows my mind (other reviewer).I have rarely seen a book that meshes "technical" information in such a readable fashion as Kentwood Wells has done in this monumental volume.

the ecology and behavior of amphibians


chegou 15 dias antecipado ao dia marcado. bem embalado e com o conteudo esperado. fiquei muitooooooooo satisfeita. parabens!!!

a hobbyist's perspective
Amphibians might be considered to be a somewhat neglected sector of the herp hobby, which itself, unfortunately, is still looked upon as being on the fringes by many people. In reality, most types of reptiles and amphibians in captivity are best treated as display animals to be admired as a part of a functioning ecosystem. The challenge in keeping them healthy and content lies in recreating these ecosystems as faithfully as possible, so that the animals, in the most ideal case, do not realize they are in captivity! Some species, like poison dart frogs, may be rather demanding, whereas others, like fire bellied toads or tiger salamanders, may be surprisingly simple to keep. Some, like the tropical palm salamanders (Bolitoglossa) seem to have some very particular requirements that make them difficult captives even for specialists. But in every case, a working knowledge of how they live in the wild can definitely be a great asset to the aspiring herpetoculturist, as well as anyone who likes to observe them in their natural habitats.

This book is divided into chapters on various topics about amphibians such as their classification, geographical distribution patterns, feeding and reproductive behavior, survival strategies, conservation issues, and so on, and does a very good job of compiling all of the latest scientific findings in each of these areas. At first I thought that some of the material went a bit over the head of the average amateur naturalist or herp hobbyist like myself, but upon further inspection I realized that much of it is quite accessible to the average reader. There are quite a few illustrations and pictures demonstrating unusual and provocative behaviors. One disappointing issue to me was the lack of color photos of the animals and their habitats. The pictures are still quite good, but fail to totally do justice to these creatures when it comes to such topics as aposematic coloration, camouflage, etc. Additionally, some color photos might have done more to draw the attention of the average reader to these fascinating creatures, many of which are threatened by various environmental problems, not all of which have yet been clearly identified. The section of the book addressing these problems is compelling reading to anyone interested in these animals, but leaves the reader realizing that there is still a lot to be learned about how to solve them.

In spite of some minor quibbles that I have mentioned, I believe this book is a superb reference, which contains the kind of material you wish you would find under "Amphibians" in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, but wouldn't.

A definitive treatment of amphibian ecology
At a moment when amphibians are undergoing declines and disappearances and being held up as indicators of environmental health, the appearance of this book could not be more timely.While there area number of textbooks that capably treat the biology of amphibians, their coverage of behavior and ecology is usually brief and superficial.

Neither adjective fits this well organized book.I am sure some will end up usingit in support of graduate and upper level undergraduate courses, however I would hesitate to call it a textbook.Instead it reads much more like a literature review, or really a set of literature reviews.Each is enormously comprehensive and all are written accessibly given their subject matter.In the areas I know best, the author has gone to great lengths to be both thorough and balanced in his presentation of competing evidence and shows shrewd judgment in his conclusions.The frequent use of figures and other graphics from primary literature is also effective.

It is increasingly uncommon for an academic to dedicate this degree of effort to a single publication.The scholarship is extraordinarily thorough and the writing invites the reader to plunge ahead.Even specialists will find it amazing how much work is being done on amphibians and in such a wide array of topics.That one person could master all of this literature is staggering.For the rest of us that have not, this book is a tremendous bootstrap to amphibian literacy.

If you are interested in the ecology and behavior of amphibians this is the book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of biological invasion by non-native species. Highlighting important research findings associated with each stage of invasion, Invasion Ecology provides an overview of the invasion process from transportation patterns and causes of establishment success to ecological impacts, invader management, and post-invasion evolution.

Increasing awareness of the problems associated with invasion has led to a rapid growth in research into the dynamics of non-native species and their adverse effects on native biota and human economies. This book provides a synthesis of this fast growing field of research, and is an essential text for undergraduate and graduate students in ecology and conservation management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

conservation biology topic
This product really helped with my invasive species discussion course. My professor decided this was the best book to us on the market today.

Hoopes is the best!
Martha Hoopes was not only my ecology professor at Mount Holyoke college but she was also my advisor and she is AWESOME!!!!!!!

Very well written, I thoroughly enjoy this book
It's very informative, backed up with plenty of facts. The concepts and theories really helped me in my field of invasives ecology. The only drawback I would say is that you need to have some kind of background in ecology or ecological concepts to thoroughly enjoy the chapters. I also bought another book to go with this one (not the same authors) and I much rather pick up this one and read it. I definetly recommend it to others, and it's a good price.

Outstanding book on invasion ecology
This book is an up to date, thorough treatment on invasive ecology. It could be used to learn about invasive ecology or for a senior undergraduate and/or graduate class. The book is well organized and written. They have chosen to present many of the main issues in invasive ecology, comparing and contrasting different results in different areas (such as plants and animals). Their book builds on itself, so that as you continue to read, they remind the reader of examples already talked about in other parts of the book. This helps the reader to remember the concepts, and see different ideas from different points of view. They are not shy about the lack of evidence and research for some of the main hypotheses in this branch of ecology. At the end of each chapter, they present the reader with current papers on further complexity as well as companion papers. As a community college instructor and a PhD student, I found this book to be top quality. I hope there is a book so up to date, and well organized for me to teach invasive ecology from when I finish my degree. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book for most all levels
This book covers the tpes of plants that can be found in forest and is organized in a logical manner. The entire forest as an ecosystem is presented so that the information is not abstracted and presented as a list but is instead shown in relation to its niche. The first part of the book covers the concept of a forest as an ecosystem. Following this is a large list of the more common plants that can be found in the forest. Then there is a section on collecting plants that is very well written. The last section is a number of exercises that could be used in a classroom fieldtrip or by anyone interested in nature. Overall the book is easy to read and very helpful. I have all three of this authors books and they are all great additions to my library. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the world around them. It would be of special interest to anyone who is interested in becoming a naturalist as a hobby or anyone who has a child that they would like introduced to the world outside. ... Read more

Product Description
Begon, Townsend and Harper’s Ecology has long been regarded as the definitive textbook on all aspects of ecology. This new edition continues to provide a comprehensive treatment of the subject from the first principles of ecology to a vivid reflection of our understanding of ecology in the 21st century.

Thoroughly revised and updated, this fourth edition includes:

three new chapters on applied ecology, reflecting a rigorous, scientific approach to the ecological problems now facing mankind discussion of over 750 new studies, updating the text throughout an updated, user-friendly design with margin notes and chapter summaries that serve as study aids dedicated websiteThe resulting textbook is easy to use, lucid and up-to-date, and is the essential reference for all students whose degree program includes ecology and for practising ecologists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

never received
It should arrive in May. Never received, I sent 2 e-mails to seller, no answer. Hard to contact anyone at amazon.com. I am very disappointed, really frustrated with amazon site. I will consider very seriously before buy here again.

An Essential Book in Ecology
This book is simply necessary for those who pretend to learn and understand ecology. It's very well written and treats all the mandatory topics in ecology. As an extremely complex science, ecology needs a direct and clear approach and few authors can do that the same way Begon and his colleagues do. The book has a pleasant reading and is full with context examples; it brings the most recent issues in ecology as the functional ecology view of the communities and its relationship with the environment.

GOOD FOR SCIENCE OLYMPIAD!
I may be the only person reviewing this book who's not in college.Anyway, I ordered this book because I needed to study for an event in science olympiad dealing with ecology.Ever since I received it, I have gotten first place at every tournament!The plethora of real-world examples in this book were very helpful.My only problem with it were the "illustrations". Come on, diagrams? Maybe... but illustrations? NO WAY!Except a few here and there.I also didn't like how all the diagrams were the exact same color.

good, solid review of Ecology
I'm a grad student in ecology, and this book is a wonderful review of the subject.The writing is straightforward and includes lots of examples from the scientific literature.

It's well written and has many levels, so it would be just as valuable for an undergrad with an interest in ecology as it is for the grad student boning up for qualifying exams (me!).Much better than comparable ecology books that I used as an undergraduate. ... Read more

Product Description
This exceptionally comprehensive, single-source introduction to the art, science, theories, practices, and issues of wildlife management is ideal for the novice in the subject. Features full-chapters on predators, urban wildlife, policy, water, soil, diseases, conservation biology. New, up-to-date issues covered include the removal of dams, global warming, emerging diseases among elk and deer, adaptive harvest management, animal rights groups, women hunters, population data, migratory animals and more. For anyone interested in an exceptionally comprehensive introduction to wildlife management and conservation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wildlife Ecology and Management
This is one of the few textbooks that I have ever been able to read for pleasure.The text is well-sprinkled with interesting and useful citations.

good content, bad writing
This book has good, useful content, however I found the quality of Bolen's writing to be horrid. There were many run-ons, incomplete sentences, bad syntax and LONG sentences combining sometimes unrelated ideas. I know this isn't a grammar or English book, but his writing style made it difficult for me to read, not to mention understand what he's trying to say. I've read a good deal of textbooks, and many of them were much better written than this one. He also tries to write figuratively at times, and personally when I'm trying to learn, I don't care about figurative speech and just want the raw concept. Additionally, the text was swamped with examples (most of the academic ideas were in the forms of examples) and while examples help remember material, when they come one after another, and never end, it just creates confusion. If Mr. Bolen spent more time editing his material for grammar and comprehension rather than using "pretty" words, this would be a much better text. Otherwise, it was definitely not worth the $100-some it cost.

Wildlife Ecology and Management Review
This textbook is very easy to read and includes a great deal of diagrams, pictures and illustrations to increase understanding.It explans technical terms thoroughly, and provides the scientific names of animals in the text.

Wildlife Ecology and Management
It's a textbook!I have no basis for comparison or description of how good this book is.It reads Well, though...easy to read, that is.

Interesting...meant to be read by an American- appeals to an American reader through examples and case studies, but could still be interesting and of course, useful to anyone studying North America and Europe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Eastern Deciduous Forest, Second Edition: Ecology and Wildlife Conservation
The book arrived on 6/12/10 in "good condition" with clean pages, no writing, underlining, highlighting, or other marks, as advertised.They indicated "almost no shelf wear"; I did not observe any.The book was actually in like new, mint condition.Thank you very much.

Very informative , good overview of all ecological processes
This book is a must for anyone who is considering naural resource management as a career, as I am.It deals with the basic ecological terms and poses some very difficult problems that forest management will occure in the recent future.If you are interested in conservation, and not preservation, this book will be a wise investment. ... Read more

Product Description

Islam is the religion of over one billion people and is practiced in virtually every country on earth. The articulation of an Islamic environmental ethic in contemporary terms is all the more urgent because Western-style conservation efforts do not fit all cultural and philosophical traditions.

This volume outlines the Islamic view of the cosmic order and reviews the ways an Islamic world view can be interpreted, reassessed, and applied to such environmental problems as pollution and water scarcity. Sections on social justice and on issues of sustainability and development look at the history and roots of the current environmental crisis; at the broader context of women's rights of equal access to both natural and social resources; and at the interconnectedness of environmental protection and the alleviation of human poverty.

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Customer Reviews (7)

Terrible
Concise indeed. This book is so oversimplified that it is neither helpful or accurate. We do not get nuanced analyses of contemporary issues in ecological methods. We get no clear guide to the diversity of opinions regarding how to approach ecology as a career and a discipline. Instead, as the title implies, we get a single approach, formed entirely from the authors' opinions. Even with such a simplistic framework, we still get no nuance, no detail, no interesting discussion. Furthermore, the authors' knowledge is somewhat questionable. For example, at one point they refer to Path Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (never by name, mind you - that would be much too advanced) as brand new but controversial tools. The problem is that they are neither; both got their start among economists in the 1920's.

This book might be useful for a high school student. Or for a high school teacher who wants to delve into experimental ecology with his class. But for a serious professional researcher, even one who is beginning as a grad student? Only if you have no interest in appreciating the richness of approaches that makes ecology a unique discipline.

Very handy
This book is a great introduction to do ecology, it is full of good advices that for sure will make a difference in my first research projects. It is very easy to read and even funny sometimes. I read it in just two days, but most probably I'll back to it many times in the next couple of years while doing my research projects.

How to do ecology
How to do ecology is a very readable book. It covers the essential elements of the task of conducting ecological research. Its major strength is that it puts the process into perspective. The chance of success and failure in research is discussed and it is reassuring to new researchers to hear that things don't always work. It also discusses where to place your time and effort amongst the many competing demands of a graduate or new career researcher. The book provides some very useful guidelines on how to analyse data and begin to transform analysed data into a paper or conference oral presentation. It serves its intended purpose very well and I would recommend it especially to graduate research students.

Great Book, Great Condition
This book is fantastic for people who want to know about doing ecology well. The book came in brand new condition. Great Buy

Essential Reading for Biology Grad Students
I found it in the university library and spent a whole afternoon reading it! I was waiting for some books to come from the auto-stacks and found it on the new book display shelf by the circulation desk. It was great luck! There is so much valuable information taking notes was not enough so I ordered it! This is a concise and well-written guide for biology graduate students and even those who have experience in the field. It certainly would improve the level of presentations... I have endured some wretched ones too. My area of work is environmental toxicology studying the effect of endocrine disruptors in a wetland. It is so easy to get lost in the details. I can be too much of a perfectionist and this book already has helped me narrow my focus. Normally, I would have spent weeks working through my perfectionism to arrive at a realistic approach. Enough said. ... Read more

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For sophomore- to junior-level courses in Evolution, with an Introductory Biology prerequisite. This text introduces biology majors to the basic concepts of the fields comprising Darwinian biology: population genetics, population ecology, community ecology, macroevolution, physiological ecology, systematics, and functional morphology. The general theme is the interconnectedness of organism, environment, and evolution. Just as biochemistry and molecular biology provide the foundation for our understanding of the cell, evolutionary biology and ecology are used to construct a foundation for understanding the organism.Using evocative language and an eye-catching magazine format, the authors aim to prepare undergraduates for more advanced specialist courses in Darwinian biology as they pursue their degrees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great
I was very happy with how quickly I received the textbook. It is in very good condition, and I got it for half the price they wanted in my college book store. ... Read more

Product Description
Ecological theories and hypotheses are usually complex because of natural variability in space and time, which often makes the design of experiments difficult. This book describes how to design ecological experiments from a statistical basis using analysis of variance, so reliable conclusions can be drawn. The logical procedures that lead to a need for experiments are described, followed by an introduction to simple statistical tests. This leads to a detailed account of analysis of variance, looking at procedures, assumptions, and problems. One-factor analysis is extended to nested (hierarchical) designs and factorial analysis. Finally, some regression methods for examining relationships between variables are covered. Examples of ecological experiments are used throughout to illustrate the procedures and examine problems. This book will be invaluable to practicing ecologists as well as advanced students involved in experimental design. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Faculty choice
I ordered this book because one of my faculty patrons requested it to put on Reserve for his class.

underwood
Good guide for the whole scientific community...citated in all the original articles of the last years...without it you can't pubblish anymore on the most popular and important scientific ecological journals.
Very good and written in an easy form.

Conceptual and logical in approach
The book is focus on the author's field, it is ecology and on benthic invertebrates. This book is great for people who wants to study community ecology as prof Underwood tries to explain the principles of statistics, how to design your study against pitfalls before conducting it in the field. The numerous examples set to analyze their variances, how to analyze samples and the assumptions made in analyzing samples. All of these are covered by a field practicing ecologist whose book is destined to be a classic in ecology and statistics.

essential book for ecologists
This book was one of the best purchases I made upon starting my graduatecareer. It is extremely well written and de-mystifies the process ofhypothesis testing and experimental design and analysis. I consider thisbook a must for anyone starting out in the field of ecology who hasquestions about experimental design or analysis.

An outstanding book with a clear leanguage.
Anyone has experience the fear of start reading any statistical book because most of the classic text always confuse us with very sophisticated formulas and terms. Underwood book for me is written in a extreme clearleanguage and examples. I teach this kind of courses and my students findeasy to use even if is a foreign leanguage to us. I hope this would helpyou. Regards, Rafael. ... Read more

Product Description
Now back in print as a University Press of Colorado edition, this abundantly illustrated volume fully explains moose biology and ecology and assesses the increasingly complex enterprise of managing moose. Twenty-one of the world's authorities on the species discuss its taxonomy, reproduction and growth, feeding habits, behavior, population dynamics, relationships with predators, incidental mortality, seasonal migration patterns, and habitat and harvest management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

All The Moose That's Fit To Print
With apologies to the NY Times for this title, this is the book to have on all things moose.Everything is coverered in this comprehensive bible of the moose.From habits, descriptions, pictures, diagrams, and charts to a study of this fine creature's impact on our culture, this is the definative study of a subject that could not be any more worthy of an examination this extensive.The moose is really about all that is good in this world.Brave, handsome, strong, and yet loveable.What more could you want?Don't let the price scare you away reader.Be like the courageous moose and plunk down the 65 bills(plus shipping and handling) for something that will enrich your life time and again.

more info on moose than most people will ever dream of!
If you're a moose-aphile, then this is your book!Every aspect of the moose is covered and includes great pencil drawings and photos.While written for scientists, most of the book is still quite readable for thelayperson.I haven't read most of the book, but I do thumb through itregularly, and I always read something else that I never knew about themoose!

Amazing, informative, breathtaking, godsend, detailed, etc!
I would like to take this oportunity to thank all of the people/scientists, biologists, volunteers, etc. who helped put this awesome book together. The information in this book is coming from hands-on timeconsuming experience. This book is truly a mooselover's bible. I hold themen and women who devote their lives to researching this beautiful animalin the hightest respects. I just hope someday I may be part of the group ofpeople contributing their knowledge into a future book as great as thisone. I would like to say a special hello and thank you to the people of theMoose Research Center (MRC) at Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. I hope to beoffered the wonderful opportunity of being able to volunteer at MRC. Mooseand this book combined have opened up whole new doors to life's avenues forme. Again, thank you for your time and efforts in bringing this great bookto us. I love it ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Truer Words...
I had heard of this teacher in my other readings so when I heard of this book I decided it was time to find out what others we talking about.He is a MASTER in the finest sense of the term. His words are for all of us, regardless of religious affiliation. These words are PERFECT for today's modern life.

Excellent book on union between Environmentalism and Buddhism.
This is an EXCELLENT book on the union between Environmentalism and Buddhism.Thich Nhat Hanh explains in simple language the necessity of our shared existence with our environment and therefore the importance of caring for it.

Timely, important book calling on us all to live with mindfullness in regards to living on this finite, fragile planet
Timely, important book calling on us all to live with mindfullness in regards to living on this finite, fragile planet. Great to see buddishim and ecology so clearly linked for the peace and survial for all species on this planet.

A beautiful small book, with profound short essays on working towards a 'global ethic', 'diet for a mindful planet' and an 'earth peace treaty' for us all to sign individually and email into a monastery!- an innovative invitation to inidicate and emphasise all our individual reponsibility to this planet.

A thoughtful open letter to all of humanity, highly recommended to readers of all faiths and backgrounds
Buddhist monk, scholar, and human rights activist Thich Nhat Hanh presents The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology, a thoughtful, almost pocket-sized guide to the spiritual dimension of environmentalism, as seen from a Buddhist perspective. Hanh argues that the impermanence of all things should not be used as an excuse to turn one's back on the world, instead emphasizing that being fully engaged with the world is critical to individual and collective survival. "The wisdom offered by the Buddha is that we accept impermanence - our own death and the inevitable death of our civilization. And afer having accepted that, we will have peace and strength and an awakening that will bring us together. No more hate, no more discrimination. Then we'll have the opportunity to make use of the technology that is available to us in order to save our beloved planet." A thoughtful open letter to all of humanity, highly recommended to readers of all faiths and backgrounds.

Thich
Anything written by Thich Nhat Hanh is wonderful to read. This is not the best of his writing for me, but still it is an awesome read. ... Read more

Product Description
Textbook with a synthetic treatment of contemporary landscape ecology, geared toward ecologists and graduate students. Places an emphasis on the interaction between spatial pattern and ecological process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The book to have
This is the excellent book on Landscape Ecology.Instead of being an edited collection of research articles, this volume's chapters follow logically and treat the material comphrensively, while giving references at every turn to researchers books or articles.Monica, whose research publications are extensive, writes this introductory book well.

The images in this book are, however, in black and white.There is an accompanying CD of color plates, but they are no bigger then those in the text and are fairly useless.I was hoping she would have some data for her book's examples and perhaps even a whole project we might use in one of the current software tools.

Still this can't take away from the fact that this is the book I've been searching for.But a very "first" primer in this subject is a chapter written by Monica - "What is Landscape Ecology" for an 1998 Oxford "Ecology" text.You can download this for free. See item 76 of the publications page on Monica website ([...]).

Highly recommended
One of the most comprehensive landscape ecology materials existing on the market nowadays. Ideal for landscape ecology beginners or for for anybody who wonders what fragmentation, ecological processes and patterns are.

Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice
This is an excellent book that intrigues the informed while explaining complex information in such a way that novice readers can follow along.

Valuable Summary
I use this book as the recommended text for both undergraduate and graduate courses in landscape ecology.It has a useful synthesis of recent trends in the field and particularly good chapters on scale, landscape metrics and disturbance.The accompanying CD has jpeg versions of most of the figures, which is handy for preparing lectures, although the quality of some of the digital images from CD (especially graphs and line charts) isn't so great.The literature review is thorough without being overwhelming, so it's a good entry point into the professional literature in most areas of landscape ecology.My main criticism is that the writing style is somewhat dense; I didn't find it easy to read from cover to cover. People looking for a cursory introduction to the field may do better to start with an alternative text.As a teaching and reference text for landscape ecology, however, I think this book is the best available.

A Must-Have for Anyone into Landscape Ecology or GIS
If the credentials of the authors didn't convince of the quality of this book, I'm not sure I can.I will say that I have read and re-read the book several times, and that it's a vital resource in our laboratory.From the various issues of scaling to what analyses do what, this book is an excellent resource of theories and technologies involved in Landscape Ecology. ... Read more

Product Description
The book describes and discusses the numerical methods which are successfully being used for analysing ecological data, using a clear and comprehensive approach. These methods are derived from the fields of mathematical physics, parametric and nonparametric statistics, information theory, numerical taxonomy, archaeology, psychometry, sociometry, econometry and others. Compared to the first edition of Numerical Ecology, this second edition includes three new chapters, dealingwith the analysis of semiquantitative data, canonical analysis and spatial analysis. New sections have been added to almost all other chapters. There are sections listing available computer programs and packages at the end of several chapters. As in the previous English and French editions, there are numerous examples from the ecological literature, and the choice of methods is facilitated by several synoptic tables.
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Customer Reviews (3)

Obligatory reading!
This is the best book on numerical ecology available. Legendre & Legendre are already a classical on communities data analysis, and this second edition is a fundamental update. The book should be always around when you are analysing complex data sets and want a correct method and a valid interpretation. This is not the usual book of biostatistics, and a good background knowledge on basic univariate statistics is essential. It has also a good introduction on the calculations involved in multivariate analysis, that must be read in order to follow the rest of the book. It covers in detail many multivariate methods a discuss also its applications and drawbacks. If you look for an instrumental "cookbook" style, look somewhere else, but if you want to really understand basic multivariate analysis, this is your book.

Comprehensive -- Not exactly a "light read"
A great resource for graduate level and above.This book is comprehensive in terms of numerical ecology and is for the more advanced quantitative ecologist.My area of interest is site similarity indices, and I have only begun to tap into the knowledge available in this book on the subject.I am sure I will be returning to it repeatedly through the years.

Indespensible reference.
This is THE TEXT to have if you use any of the numerical techniques in the field of quantitative ecology. Its scope if exhaustively comprehensive.The authors clearly explain which methods are at your disposal under givencircumstances and which are inappropriate to use.Many of the methodsdescribed are illustrated with case studies of ecological examples from theliterature. In most cases, the authors walk you thru the computationalsteps involved in using a particular numerical method--this would make itpossible for the reader to construct a "home grown" algorithm formethods unavailable in "off-the-shelf" statistical packages. Inaddition, the book is also thankfully littered with citations andreferences for those computer programs that are available for each of themethods described...this is very up-to-date material, as many of thesereferences are web sites! ... Read more

Product Description
Liberation Ecologies elaborates a political-economic explanation of environmental crisis, drawing from the most recent advances in social theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must read
This book has helped me analyze social and ecological issues in a whole new way. I am forever changed because of the complexities brought out by the Liberation Ecologies authors. For anyone in the social sciences but with an interest in ecology or the environment, this is a must read.

liberation ecologies
In the years since Piers Blaikie published his radical studiesof soil erosion in the mid 1980s and coined the term "regionalpolitical ecology" with Harold Brookfield, human- environmental interactions in developing countries have become increasingly sophisticated. Geographers have taken a central role in debates about the social and economic causation of land degradation and hazards, and explored environmentally- inspired social movements, NGOs, and other resource management institutions. One landmark contribution was a special issue of Economic Geography on the theme of "Environment and Development", published in 1993. The papers from that journal issue helped to inspire a healthy debate that has echoed through the left- environmental journals and conference networks.In this edited volume, Dick Peet and Michael Watts have taken several re-worked papers from that special issue, and added new contributions. Their aim in Liberation Ecologies is to "integrate critical approaches to political economy with notions derived from post-structural philosophy" (p260), thereby critiquing and extending the political ecology framework. The book offers ten chapters, and an introduction and a conclusion by the editors. All the contributors are academics teaching in the United States, although at least seven are non-Americans. All but two (Escobar and Moore) were trained as geographers.All have some connection with the universities of Clark and Berkeley, and some with both. Four studies deal with Asia: three with Latin America, and four with Africa, with a strong bias towards rural environments. The long gestation period of the book, the theoretical mastery of its editors, and the credentials of its contributors add up to a polished and wide ranging survey of a vibrant and challenging field. In their Introduction, Peet and Watts provide an interesting reading of current debates in environment and development theory. They also criticize Blaikie's political ecology for its "plurality" (p7) , and they see its "voluntarist" explanations as largely "without politics or an explicit sensitivity to class interest and social struggle" (p8). Their own Liberation Ecology approach should operate from a wider epistemological base. It should tackle politics, including the actions of peoples' movements built around environmental justice and land rights. It should also show how local environmental knowledge is incorporated into alternative development strategies, look at the social construction of environment and development language and debates, and forge new forms of environmental history and ecology. It is a "discursive arena" (p38) which broadens debates about the environment to tackle the three domains of livelihood, entitlement, and social justice. Liberation ecology, therefore, adds neglected components to a "regional political ecology" analysis.Each chapter differs in its adoption of Peet and Watts' agenda, and none embraces every aspect of Liberation Ecology. The first two papers show how established environmental debates are socially constructed, emerging from a established, commercialized western orthodoxy. Escobar demolishes the aims and methods of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, approaches that view the environment as a relatively unproblematic arena for technical interventions. Instead he promotes a postmodern view which sees nature as "socially constructed" by people and their intellectual and technical labors. Yapa's paper places the scientific response to poverty, and particularly Green Revolution improved seed varieties, as a reaction to another "construct" - an erroneous view of poverty. Poverty, he argues, resulted from these programs, rather than being solved by them. Bebbington takes on this line of thinking to challenge the vague support given by western writers to alternative development and indigenous organizations...As environments have been transformed, so have social relations. This theme also emerges in the work of Schroeder and Suryanata, who look at the potential of agroforestry to change the economic landscape and tenure relations. Agroforestry receives international praise, but can be wholly inappropriate to local needs, as in the case of pesticide-laden apple orchards in Java. Rangan takes on an example of what Robin Mearns and Melissa Leach call an "environmental orthodoxy" - the widespread belief in the successes of the Indian Chipko movement. She argues this movement is, unwittingly, a part of western development discourse, and it has held back social development by insisting on forest extraction legislation to the benefit of a small minority of traders and loggers.Other voices calling for tree-felling to supply local fuelwood, rather than tree-hugging, have been drowned out. Muldavin shows how Chinese agrarian restructuring now involves similar processes to capitalist industrial restructuring - "communal capital" is being destroyed under the new Chinese regime, and there are many localized environmental effects resulting from commercial agro- complexes. Three issues emerged in my reading of the book. Firstly, in attempting to re-fashion political ecology as a research tool and an epistemology, theoretical coherence is proposed around the notion of liberation ecology. Yet the contributors show great variety in research styles and in their conceptions of justice and development scenarios, and they are less strong in their support of post-structural theory and discourse analysis than the editors. The papers by Bebbington and Escobar, for example, sit far apart in their methods and their implications for policy. The editors never insisted on a on a unified voice, and recognise this eclecticism in the closing chapter (p262).However it is evident that the contributors' theoretical approaches are as diverse as the locations and societies they have investigated. This leads me to wonder if "liberation ecology" is actually an umbrella for disparate analytical forms. Secondly, despite promoting new and better forms of ecological analysis and environmental history in the Introduction (p12), few of the contributors then document, or explain, bio-physical processes or discuss recent advances in scientific or ethno- scientific evidence for environmental transformations. I think it is legitimate to ask why ecological analysis is lacking in this important book, especially since papers with a systems framework or natural science component did appear in the original 1993 Economic Geography collection. Writers in the "new ecology" tradition including Leach, Rocheleau and Scoones are well aware of the need to understand non- equilibrium ecological systems alongside the social, political and economic issues stressed in Liberation Ecologies. Instead, "environmental imaginaries", a term drawn from the work of Castoriadis, is used approvingly by Peet and Watts to describe the unique world-views of particular societies. These collective visions, or "social constructions" of nature, frame social action and development. But they do not, I would argue, provide the hard evidence ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great addition to snake literature!
This book isn't for a casual reader, but it is a must have for anyone who is passionate about reptiles (snakes in particular).The chapters are highly relevant and current.The contributers are leaders in the field and add a great deal of insight on a wide variety of ecology and conservation issues.The editors do a great job of introducing the importance of snake conservation and highlighting some of the concerns plaguing snake conservation.Definitely not a book that will sit on a shelf and I will use it as a reference for many years to come. ... Read more

Product Description
Containing contributions from some of the world’s leading tropical ecologists this book provides a summary of the key issues in the discipline of tropical ecology.

• Includes contributions from some of the world’s leading tropical ecologists
  
• Covers patterns of species distribution, the maintenance of species diversity, the community ecology of tropical animals, forest regeneration and conservation of tropical ecosystems

Product Description
This book is a general text covering both basic and applied aspects of freshwater ecology and serves as an introduction to the study of lakes and streams.Issues of spatial and temporal scale, anthropogenic impacts, and application of current ecological concepts are covered along with ideas that are presented in more traditional limnological texts.Chapters on biodiversity, toxic chemicals, extreme and unusual habitats, and fisheries increase the breadth of material covered.The book includes an extensive glossary, questions for thought, worked examples of equations, and real-life problems.


Key Features
* Broad coverage of groundwaters, streams, wetlands, and lakes
* Features basic scientific concepts and environmental applications throughout
* Includes many figures, sidebars of fascinating applications, and biographies of practicing aquatic ecologists
* Materials are presented to facilitate learning, including an extensive glossary, questions for thought, worked examples of equations, and real life problems
* Written at a level understandable to most undergraduate students, with explanations of complex contemporary concepts in freshwater ecology described to promote understanding
* Featuring small chapters that mainly stand alone, this book can be read in the order most suited to the specific application ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Service
Purchase, shipping, and delivery were all done in three days. This was included with an email of the tracking number, which was nice since classes just started and I could plan on when it would arrive.

Best water quality text I have found
I have been teaching a water quality field and lab-based methods course for about 10 years, and tried a number of books. While there are many purely aquatic ecology books out there, few also deal well with the applied aspects of aquatic ecosystems that students in natural resources management or environmental science programs are interested in or will deal with when they get jobs in their field. To improve the book further, I would suggest extra material on methods that could be used in lab-based courses.

moderate
Good presentation, but it does not explain the basic knowledge of freshwater ecology in wide range.

Fresh!
This is the definitive work spelled out in a style that's easy to follow and understand. It's well written and thoroughly researched. Great tome for my major! ... Read more

Product Description
Community ecology is the study of the interactions between populations of co-existing species. Co-edited by two prominent community ecologists and featuring contributions from top researchers in the field, this book provides a survey of the state-of-the-art in both the theory and applications of the discipline. It pays special attention to topology, dynamics, and the importance of spatial and temporal scale while also looking at applications to emerging problems in human-dominated ecosystems (including the restoration and reconstruction of viable communities).

Community Ecology: Processes, Models, and Applications adopts a mainly theoretical approach and focuses on the use of network-based theory, which remains little explored in standard community ecology textbooks. The book includes discussion of the effects of biotic invasions on natural communities; the linking of ecological network structure to empirically measured community properties and dynamics; the effects of evolution on community patterns and processes; and the integration of fundamental interactions into ecological networks. A final chapter indicates future research directions for the discipline.

FEATURES
* Incorporates the latest developments in the field and complements the existing textbook literature on community ecology
* Includes a mix of theoretical and applied chapters and a balance of emerging and established research topics
* Covers future research directions and provides ideal reference material for graduate courses in community ecology ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

disappointing book
I bought this book with the intention of using it for some classes of community ecology and ecosystems, and had a high expectation that this book would be very useful. However, the content and style of it does not meet my expectations. I think that is very focused on food webs and as such, the editors must be more honest to acknowledge this in the title. There are several current issues about the ecology of communities that are ignored in this book and in this sense is not useful as a general reference.

Great resource
Great resource for graduate students and researchers. Provides a solid background in the current understanding and uncertainty surrounding community ecology.

Disappointing
I teach a university course in community ecology.There aren't that many recent texts on the subject, so I was quite excited to receive this one.However, it was profoundly disappointing at nearly every turn.First and foremost, despite its broad title, this is not a book for anyone without extensive pre-existing knowledge in community ecology.Second, it is an edited volume, with some chapters that are so specialized (e.g. one on salt marsh management) as to render them useless for most readers.Third, the cited references are not given at the end of each chapter, nor are they compiled in an overall alphabetical list at the end of the book--it's something in between, with references grouped by chapter at the end of the book, a clunky way of doing business.Finally, there are two common conceptual approaches in most of the chapters, pertaining to network theory in food webs and metacommunity theory (still unsatisfyingly theoretical), with little else to glean from this book.

So, if you are a student or teacher looking for a general or introductory book on the subject of community ecology, look elsewhere.If you are a community ecologist looking for the hot trends of the field, look elsewhere. ... Read more