Product Description

Primate Behavioral Ecology, described as “an engaging, cutting-edge exposition,” incorporates exciting new discoveries and the most up-to-date approaches in its introduction to the field and its applications of behavioral ecology to primate conservation.

Linda L. Taylor of the University of Miami declares, “I can't imagine teaching a course on primate behavior or ecology without this text. ...Strier's writing style is a huge asset to keeping current information comprehensible for the target audience.”

This unique, comprehensive, single-authored text integrates the basics of evolutionary, ecological, and demographic perspectives with contemporary noninvasive molecular and hormonal techniques to understand how different primates behave and the significance of these insights for primate conservation. Examples are drawn from the “classic” primate field studies and more recent studies on previously neglected species from across the primate order, illustrating the vast behavioral variation that we now know exists and the gaps in our knowledge that future studies will fill.

William C. McGrew of the University of Cambridge, UK states, “Overall, the synthesis and integration are outstanding…this is one of the best organized textbooks that I have ever seen, in any field…it is clear that Strier is actively involved in the forefront and not some armchair type!”

Customer Reviews (3)

Thought provoking to say the least.
Book is great, thought provoking, and is a must-read for how the variables of resources, environment, and gender differences impact behavior. I am taking the Author's course, however, at UW-Madison, so my inherent bias must be stated.

Accurate description
There was a little wear and tear and some hi-lighting, but the condition was as described.I was happy with this purchase.

Good Survey Text
A good survey text of primate social ecology. Strier's work among new world primates makes this book better than most which are too heavily biased towards macaque and chimp studies. ... Read more

Product Description
The book that launched environmental history now updated.

Winner of the Francis Parkman Prize

In this landmark work of environmental history, William Cronon offers an original and profound explanation of the effects European colonists' sense of property and their pursuit of capitalism had upon the ecosystems of New England.Reissued here with an updated afterword by the author and a new preface by the distinguished colonialist John Demos, Changes in the Land, provides a brilliant inter-disciplinary interpretation of how land and people influence one another. With its chilling closing line, "The people of plenty were a people of waste," Cronon's enduring and thought-provoking book is ethno-ecological history at its best.
Amazon.com Review
Much historical writing is far more concerned with the players than thestage: narratives of kings and cabbage-merchants, although acted outin fields and forests, typically include nature only as a convenient prop toprovide the occasional splash of color. InChanges in the Land, Cronon treats the land of New England withthe same sensitivity and attention to detail as the lives of theAmerican natives and the colonists--he depicts the effects of changingland-use patterns on the texture of the New England landscape, andgives voice to the changing communities of trees, rock walls, and rivers. The chapter on theeffects of changing notions of "property" on the ecology ofNew England are especially strong.

Changes in the Land is almost the equal of Cronon's masterpiece, Nature'sMetropolis, a monumental study of the ecological effects ofChicago on the entire central portion of the United States in the1800s. Highly Recommended to specialists and general readers alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Very Satisfied
Received my order much sooner than expected, in 5 days with Standard Shipping and in the condition specified. Great transaction and fully satisfied.

Indians! Indians! and More WAMPUM!!!
This book is a good book if you want to learn about how colonists changed the lands of Americans east coast when they invaded in the 1700's. Obviously, it is called "changes in the land", hence the land changing. The author repeats himself a lot in this book, but he does this to the point of where it is stuck in your head rather than just being idiotically repeated, which is a good thing. Definitely pick this up if you have a project due on early colonial arrivals in America for a school class. Looking inside the book for the first time, the text is sooo tiny, but reading the page goes by surprisingly fast...its almost voodoo or something!

4/5

Changes in the Land

This is a fascinating look at how early New England colonists and Indians differed in their notions of land rights and use, and in notions of an object's or animal's value; of how trade relations between Indians and both colonists and European traders affected the Indian's notions of use and value, and thus of lifestyle and need; and of how in consequence over the course of time, the intercultural effects of these trade relations and the Indians' altered values and lifestyles that arose from them, along with the colonists' own values and lifestyles, and those of distant Europe too, radically changed the ecology of New England.

Great Book
Cronon writes a good book, but he is too indecisive. I agree it is not a writers job to judge the actions of others. But the evidence he provides gives the picture, white's clearly did more damage directly and indirectly to the Eastern portion of America than Natives did.

A New Portal into History
Cronon turns classic historical discussion about people and events and puts it under the lens of ecology.This was a groundbreaking book that changed the way historians can look at history - they even have a name for it: Environmental History.

I took Cronon's class at the University of Wisconsin, so was, of course, forced to read this book.But it was fascinating.And it's the book that launched a hundred other books that looked at history in ways that had not been considered before. ... Read more

Product Description
This textbook 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.

The third edition of this successful text is much more than a simple update, reflecting the vibrancy of the field. With hundreds of new examples, it contains for the first time a separate chapter on evolutionary ecology, with all other chapters, especially those on applied aspects, having been extensively revised and re-written. The new edition also features new artwork and an enhanced design, making this book as attractive as it is up-to-date and relevant.

Outstanding features of the third edition of Essentials of Ecology include:

• Dedicated website - available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/townsend, featuring study resources and web research questions
• Key Concepts - summarized at the beginning of each chapter
• History boxes outlining key landmarks in the development of ecology
• Quantitative boxes - allowing mathematical aspects of ecology to be explained clearly without interrupting the flow of the text
• Topical ECOncerns boxes - highlighting ethical, social and political questions in ecology
• Review questions - included at the end of each chapter

Customer Reviews (3)

Warning: step away from this book!


The book shrouds various tatters of the subject matter in dense, poorly worded compound sentences, dressed with excessive full color graphs and charts. It was full of limitless qualifications, redundancies, and undefined terminology (there was no glossary).

If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a position of having to actually have to wade through this, (for a class, for example), expect to find flatly unexplained contradictions in fact. (EG, the chapter on population sates that the rate of human population increase is steadily increasing, but then go on to repeatedly quotes Joel Cohen who states that it had slowed down in the 1970's).

Trying to study from it was a big enough ordeal to put most people off the subject for life. This textbook's abdication of explanatory rigor is probably one of the reasons the environmental movement has not gotten the popular traction it deserves.

Truly this textbook is a case study in obfuscatory humbug.

Could be better
The content of the book was usually clear. However, there is no glossary at all, and the index is horrible. As a textbook, this is unacceptable. Trying to study from it was a nightmare.

A very good beginning in Ecology
With this book, the writers adapted there previous release ("Ecology : Individuals, Populations and Communities", third edition) for easily understanding of the matter. But they don't just adapted it, they rewroteit. They focused, for example, on problems that are still unresolved. Ithas been written for students in ecology but also for everyone who wants tolearn more about populations, evolution and ecosystems. I hope it will leadto a better understanding of ecology... ... Read more

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

In Ecology without Nature, Timothy Morton argues that the chief stumbling block to environmental thinking is the image of nature itself. Ecological writers propose a new worldview, but their very zeal to preserve the natural world leads them away from the "nature" they revere. The problem is a symptom of the ecological catastrophe in which we are living. Morton sets out a seeming paradox: to have a properly ecological view, we must relinquish the idea of nature once and for all.

Ecology without Nature investigates our ecological assumptions in a way that is provocative and deeply engaging. Ranging widely in eighteenth-century through contemporary philosophy, culture, and history, he explores the value of art in imagining environmental projects for the future. Morton develops a fresh vocabulary for reading "environmentality" in artistic form as well as content, and traces the contexts of ecological constructs through the history of capitalism. From John Clare to John Cage, from Kierkegaard to Kristeva, from The Lord of the Rings to electronic life forms, Ecology without Nature widens our view of ecological criticism, and deepens our understanding of ecology itself. Instead of trying to use an idea of nature to heal what society has damaged, Morton sets out a radical new form of ecological criticism: "dark ecology."

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

The Ecology of Building Materials explores key questions surrounding sustainability of building materials. It provides technical data to enable design and building professionals to choose the most appropriate materials for a project: those that are least polluting, most energy efficient, and from sustainable sources. The book also gives information and guidance on a wide range of issues such as recycling, detailing for increased durability and Life Cycle Analysis.

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
This revised and reorganized text is designed for a standard forest ecology course for undergraduates in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, environmental ecology, and field ecology programs. Provides an eminently current perspective on the material by emphasizing forest ecosystems using a landscape-ecosystem or geo-ecosystem approach. Written by both field teachers and researchers of forest ecology and practitioners of forest ecology in both public and private arenas. Treats traditional plant ecology topics of community, succession, biota from a landscape ecosystem perspective, also emphasizes earth science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dislike
I was required to purchase this text for a class. I am highly unimpressed and have suggested the teacher look for new material in coming semesters. Good luck if you have to read this.

Excellent Forest Ecology Text
This book was required text for a 400+ level undergrad (Junior/Senior) and graduate course at the University of Maine. I thought the text was very engaging, and adequately and thoroughly covered the major themes in Forest Ecology. This text continues to serve as a reference for me as I used this text for comprehensive examination review and in writing my dissertation. I have not reviewed other Forest Ecology books, however can say that this text is outstanding in the presentation of material and in its readability for those who have an understanding of general ecology.

Not a good book for students of forest ecology
This book is the required text for a class on trees and forests that I am currently taking at UC Davis.It is an imposing text and reads much like a journal of ecology.It is far from a good study aid for undergrads and grad students in forest ecology.However, given its copious literature citations, it could easily serve as a reference text for an advanced undergraduate course or graduate seminar.

The book comes full of graphs, charts and pictures, but much of it is superfluous.Key terms and concepts are not fully explained for initiates, a glossary of terms is non-existent for quick reference, and brief, detailed summaries of each chapter are not provided at the end of each chapter for time-pressed students.The book also contains numerous photographs of forest stands, maps, diagrams, and charts; however, because none of these are in color, they lose much of their visual impact, detail and valuable utility.Furthermore, there are no study questions at the end of each chapter for exam preparation.As such, initiates to forestry or landscape ecology looking for a good introduction to the field are pretty much out of luck.

Although the book has gone through four editions, it is still quite far from being a good textbook.In addition to the above mentioned comments, the writing style needs to be tighter.However, negatives aside, teachers and educators looking for examples of many of the concepts in forest ecology for use in class discussions will find this an invaluable text. ... 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

Product Description
This thoroughly revised and updated book is now in full colour and augmented by many new illustrations and references. Brighter than ever, "The Ecology of Plants" covers a range of topics that you might find in a general ecology textbook, but with the focus on the interactions between plants and their environment over a range of scales. Throughout the text, human environmental influences are discussed, as well as the importance of evolutionary and other historical processes for current ecology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Seller!
Item arrived quickly and in pristine condition. If you're looking for quality, then choose this seller!

Good for Ecologist
This book is a good choice for anyone who is a beginning to an experienced Ecologist. With the content in this book you are able to retouch on some of the most common principles of plant ecology, while also reviewing the finer points in more advanced areas. This book is also serving as a great desk reference in my workplace. It would be beneficial for Ecologist, Environmentalist, or Natural Resources Specialist.

Ecology of Plants, Second Ed
The book is in great condition! Great price and was delivered in a timely manner!

Interesting read
I had to purchase this book for my Plant Ecology course.I found that the book was an interesting read (if you like the subject matter).My course followed the main topic from the chapters, but not directly.The book was a great supplement to the class and by reading it I really understood the concepts.We went more indepth in some topics in class and I wish that the book covered it, because it would have been best to read about it too.I think the authors did a great job writing it so that it was interesting. ... Read more

Product Description
This practical manual of amphibian ecology and conservation brings together a distinguished, international group of amphibian researchers to provide a state-of-the-art review of the many new and exciting techniques used to study amphibians and to track their conservation status and population trends. The integration of ecology and conservation is a natural outcome of the types of questions posed by these disciplines: how amphibians can and should be sampled, marked, and followed through time; how abundance and population trends are measured; what are the robust statistical methods that can be used in ecology and conservation; what roles do amphibians play in community structure and function; how do animals function in their environment; and what affects the long-term persistence of species assemblages?

Although emphasizing field ecology, sections on physiological ecology, genetics, landscape ecology, and disease analysis are also included. The book describes the latest statistical approaches in amphibian field ecology and conservation, as well as the use of models in interpreting field research. Much of this information is scattered in the scientific literature or not readily available, and the intention is to provide an affordable, comprehensive synthesis for use by graduate students, researchers, and practising conservationists worldwide. ... Read more

Product Description
Physics and chemistry are distinguished from biology by the way generalizations are codified into theories tested by observation and experimentation. Some theories have been sufficiently tested to qualify as laws. In ecology, generalizations worthy of being called theories are less common because observations and experimentation are difficult and exceptions are more common. In this book, Walter K. Dodds enumerates generalizations in ecology. Introductory material describes how the practice of science in general, and ecology specifically, yields theories and laws. Dodds also discusses why such ideas are only useful if they have predictive ability, and delineates the scope of these generalizations and the constraints that limit their application. The result is a short book that delves deeply into important ecological ideas and how they predict and provide understanding. ... Read more

Product Description
6X9 In, 266 Pp, Bibliography, Footnotes, < Appendices < Practicing Is Simple. Nothing Forced, < Nothing Violent, Just Settling Into Our < Place. Deep Ecology, A Term Originated < In1972 By Norwegian Philosopher Arne < Naess, Is Emerging As A Way To Develop < Harmony Between Individuals, Communities < and Nature. Deep Ecology--The Term and < The Book--Unfolds The Path To Living < Simple, Rich Life and Shows How To < Participate In Major Environmental < Issues In A Positive ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent resource for the already converted.
As a long time environmental activist and graduate student in philosophy I found the book wonderfully comprehensive in its analysis and explanation of deep ecology.The book delves nicely into the sources of deep ecology and its response to other perspectives on environmental issues.I found it a quick read (I read it at the gym, but then, I read Heidegger for fun) and well put together.

It will not, however, make someone who is coming from a perspective far from deep ecology change their mind.For that I would recommend Muir or Jeffers or better yet, spend some time in the real wilderness yourself.What it does is provide extensive background material and elucidation of the philosophy to someone who already believes in the importance of wilderness preservation.

A ponderous classic of the environmental movement.
This classic text of the environmental movememt has influenced groups as diverse as The Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace, and Earth First!Devall and Sessions explore the emotional and spiritual underpinnings of hamanity'sties to the earth in this deeply philosophical work.They link a plethoraof sources in their exploration of Deep Ecology, including numerousreligions, the words of such notables as David Brower, Aldo Leopold, andEdward Abbey, and the perspectives of many cultures.Despite all of this,though, I found it somewhat lacking.Not present is the graceful beauty ofAldo Leopold, nor the raw passion of John Muir.Perhaps this book mightgrow dog-eared with use in the library of a Philosophy Professor or acareer activist, but I suspect that most people, like me, will find thisbook a bit dull.Call me simpleminded, but I was more deeply moved byLeopold's heartfelt musings on the chickadee in "A Sand CountyAlmanac" than by Devall and Sessions' philosophical ruminations. ... Read more

Product Description
This text presents a critical survey of the burgeoning field of political ecology, an interdisciplinary area of research which connects politics and economy to problems of environmental control and ecological change. Written to be accessible to students at all levels and from different disciplines, it provides an entertaining and rigorous synthesis of the achievements and shortcomings of the field to date.

The book is divided into four sections: the history and emergence of political ecology over the last century; the conceptual and methodological challenges facing political ecologists; the major questions that political ecology has addressed and, to varying degrees, answered; and the major challenges that face the field now and for the future. Throughout, the author uses case examples to explore abstract, theoretical issues in a down-to-earth way. He also draws on real life details from his own experience, in order to offer a personal glimpse into political ecology research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Read on Robbins
Not a bad text for advanced environmental studies students. The layperson outside of the classroom may have some difficulty identifying the underlying structure, and deeper meaning of political ecology, which I find to be a radical de-constructionist perspective.

The "A" standard
Robbins has provided the new standard for political ecology texts, at least in geography, although this book is far different from a mundane "textbook."He summarizes both the thrust of what political ecology, what political ecologists do, and the shifting ground beneath our feet as we all struggle to understand and explain human-environment relationships in a political and economically complex world. Some readers and reviewers have fairly pointed out that the volume is too accommodating to perspectives that traditionally clash, or don't mesh very well, to the point of neglecting important differences in how political ecologists conduct research and how they frame it in a particular body of ideas.
I am not sure how some of the authors of past works in cultural, human and political ecology (or anthropology) would view Robbins' interpretation of their work, either in the time-line diagrams of how the sub-discipline has evolved or in the sense of being lumped with other practitioners with whom they shared little in common.
So, while the book is exceptional, the volume can be critiqued for being a bit too inclusive: Robbins has tried to build a tent large enough to house all of the bickering schools, personalities and research approaches...that rarely agree to enter the same tent. ... Read more

Product Description

The growth, reproduction and geographical distribution of plants are profoundly influenced by their physiological ecology: the interaction with the surrounding physical, chemical, and biological environments. This renowned textbook is notable in emphasizing that the mechanisms underlying plant physiological ecology can be found at the levels of biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, and whole-plant physiology. At the same time, the integrative power of physiological ecology is well-suited to assess the costs, benefits, and consequences of modifying plants for human needs, and to evaluate the role of plants in ecosystems.

This new edition of Plant Physiological Ecology features updated material, as well as full color images throughout. Boxed entries provide extended discussions of selected issues, and a glossary and numerous references to the primary and review literature are included.

Customer Reviews (4)

Nice book
This book does have a lot of good info. However, some of the figures come directly from scientific articles and their legends can be difficult to follow. There is also information presented on certain topics that is not yet fully accepted in the scientific community. There are also a few topics that are presented in a confusing manner, which make them hard to follow unless you reread them. The copy that I got is made with high quality sturdy paper, so it should last for a really long time. Overall it is a decent book but I think that it could have been organized in a format that was easier to follow.

More About The Molecular Biophysics And Biochemistry Of Photosynthesis
"About the Authors
Hans Lambers is in the Department of Plant Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Utrecht University in The Netherlands and in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Western Australia.

F. Stuart Chapin is Professor of Ecology at the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska.

Thijs L. Pons is in the Department of Plant Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Utrecht University."
[from the book of the back cover]

".....The book starts, appropriately, with the capture of carbon from the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis is obviously the basis of life on earth, and some of the most brilliant scientists have made it their life's work.
As a result, we know MORE ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS than we do about any other plant process....."
[from the book of the foreword by David T. Clarkson, IACR-Long Ashton Research Station, University of Bristol, April 1997]

Excellent reference book
I use this book as a starting point on specific topics in plant physiology & ecophysiology from the plant cell to plant global communities. Indeed, it is not an intro course in plant physiology and very broad but I would recommend this book for graduate students, it is helpful.

A complex book - not for the beginner
This book covers a lot of ground, beginning with photosynthesis, plant-water relations, and plant energy balances before discussing ecological aspects of plant physiology.While it follows a logical progression from the cell to the ecosystem scale, the book is very difficult to read.The authors try to cover too much material in the book, omitting basic material in order to broaden the focus of the book.Therefore, it is definitely not for those who are looking for a basic book in either plant physiology or plant ecology.As a textbook, it is difficult for undergraduate students to understand, and seems to be geared towards graduate students and those already familiar with the field. ... Read more

Product Description

Praise for Harnessing America's Wasted Talent

"President Obama offered America and the world renewed hope for a better tomorrow. With decades of experience in alternative forms of higher education, Peter Smith grabs that optimistic spirit and seizes the moment to reveal to us the exciting age of Web-based teaching and learning, which is opening access to untold numbers of learners while harnessing the previously wasted talents of millions of people in America and billions around the world. Those seeking insights, a vision of the future, and a chance to join this educational revolution should look forward to Harnessing America's Wasted Talent."
—Curtis J. Bonk, professor, Indiana University, and author, The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education

"Anyone who wants to understand where American higher education is headed should read Harnessing America's Wasted Talent. Peter Smith's vision of the future of higher education is based on several decades of experience—at the national, state, and international levels. He brings a rare perspective that will interest students, educators, politicians, and those American business leaders who are worried about the future of our workforce and the health of our democracy."
—Charles Kolb, president, The Committee for Economic Development

"Harnessing America's Wasted Talent is a must-read for those of us concerned about the increasing economic and education gaps in our country. Peter Smith takes on an important American disconnect: the need for an educated workforce and the fact that most working Americans lack a college degree. Drawing upon his experience in higher education and politics, Smith dissects the problem and presents a contemporary, practical plan to enhance the learning capacity of our country."
—Joseph B. Moore, president, Lesley University ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ecology at the heart of faith
This has been an eye opener for me.I'm being made aware of how closely everything created is connected and I'm viewing nature in a much more relation-based attitude.My cat has more meaning for me.I used to consider her a nuisance at times; now I realize that she needs relationship with me since she has no other cats to interact with.I'm gazing with awe at the insects "dancing in the autumn sunshine".They seem to be celebrating life.And this book certainly causes me to review the necessity to conserve energy.I can use my car less,I've gotten rid of my gas guzzler; I recycle paper, plastic and glass; buy my milk in returnable glass containers, etc.I highly recommend this as a great read for anyone who cares for the universe.We must change our attitudes and behavior before there is no recovery attainable.

Ecological Theology
In his latest book, Edwards offers "a partial sketch of how ecological conversion can find inspiration from within the traditions of Christian faith."

Based on the God-centered (not human-centered) teaching of the bible, he explores an ecological theology that honors and respects all creatures. Today, he suggests, many Christians accept care of creation as God's will, yet fail to see their actions as discipleship with Jesus. Jesus knew God was involved with every sparrow that falls to the ground, Edwards reminds us. Connecting the living memory of Jesus with the issues that confront the global community is essential if ecological action is to be seen "not only as ethically responsible but also as radically Christian."

He shares his vision of actions and attitudes that could result from a widespread conversion to this radical Christianity, carried out in all aspects of daily life as well as through public witness by the church. Among other changes, he sees a critical challenge to current economic and political practices and acceptance of the reality that resources of earth are finite and "current Western consumption patterns...bring death and destruction to other species in our planetary community life." Other topics Edwards addresses include writings on the future of the world by theologians Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Karl Rahner and an ecological theology of the Eucharist.

This timely, clearly written resource, with its strong summary chapter, extensive notes, and detailed index, is ideal for those wishing to further their understanding of the ecological icrisis facing our world and ways that we can make a difference today. The entire work or specific chapters could be used by families, small groups, or educators. ... Read more

Product Description
Outlines the central processes that characterize terrestrial ecosystems, tracing the flow of water, carbon, and nutrients from their abiotic origins to their cycles through plants, animals, and decomposer organisms. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
Book was received as listed. In new condition with speedy delivery. I would recommend this seller.

Book review
Item condition is perfect as described by seller. However, book is very confusing and hard to study from.

good stuff
Great book on basic terrestrial ecology.If you are an ecology major, you should get this book!

Essential for ecology
This textbook is excellent for life science students who want to approach ecology from the point of view of ecosystem functioning. A precise and clear systematic description of ecosystems organisazion is given, from physiology to complex communities organization. It also focuses on the emrgence of new functions and features every time the complexity level increases, which is essential to have a full systematic comprehension of ecosystems. Underlying physical-chemical processes are always taken into considaration, which contributes to easily understand all the general aspects of ecosystem functions. A must read.

good for the ecosystem ecologist in everyone
a technical book written for ecosystem ecologists but easy to read.I had to get it for a class, but it was well put-together and organized. ... Read more

Product Description
Extending the definition of ecology to encompass social relations and human subjectivity as well as environmental concerns, The Three Ecologies argues that the ecological crises that threaten our planet are the direct result of the expansion of a new form of capitalism and that a new ecosophical approach must be found which respects the differences between all living systems.

This edition includes a chronology of Guattari's life and work, introductions to both his general philosophy and to the work itself, and extended notes to the original text. ... Read more