This book offers a balance of subject matter emphasis, clearly presented concepts, and engaging, fresh examples to help students gain a clear and solid understanding of Ecology. Emphasis is placed on connections in nature and links to evolution.

1. Introduction: The Web of Life

UNIT I: ORGANISMS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
2. The Physical Environment
3. The Biosphere
4. Coping with Environmental Variation: Water and Temperature
5. Coping with Environmental Variation: Energy
6. Evolution and Ecology

UNIT II: POPULATIONS
7. Life History Analyses
8. Population Distribution and Abundance
9. Population Growth and Regulation
10. Population Dynamics

UNIT III: INTERACTIONS AMONG ORGANISMS
11. Competition
12. Predation and Herbivory
13. Parasitism
14. Mutualism and Commensalism

UNIT IV: COMMUNITIES
15. Nature of Communities
16. Change in Communities
17. Biogeography
18. Species Diversity

UNIT V: ECOSYSTEMS
19. Production
20. Energy Flow and Food Webs
21. Nutrient Supply and Cycling

UNIT VI: APPLIED AND LARGE-SCALE ECOLOGY
22. Conservation Biology
23. Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Management
24. Global Ecology

MICHAEL L. CAIN, having opted for an early retirement to focus full-time on writing, now brings his expertise to this new book. Dr. Cain received his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University, USA, taught at New Mexico State University, USA and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, USA, and is currently affiliated with Bowdoin College, USA. He has instructed students across a wide range of subjects, including introductory biology, ecology, field ecology, evolution, botany, mathematical biology, and biostatistics. His research interests include: plant population ecology; long-distance dispersal; ecological and evolutionary dynamics in hybrid zones; and spatial spread and search behavior in plants and animals.

WILLIAM D. BOWMAN is Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA, affiliated with both the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. He earned his Ph.D. from Duke University, USA. Dr. Bowman has taught courses in introductory ecology, plant ecology, plant–soil interactions, and ecosystems ecology, and for several years has directed undergraduate summer field research programs. He is co-editor of the 2001 book, Structure and Function of an Alpine Ecosystem, Niwot Ridge, Colorado (Oxford University Press). His research focuses on plant ecology, biogeochemistry, and community dynamics.

SALLY D. HACKER is Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology at Oregon State University, USA. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown University, USA. She has taught courses in general ecology, community ecology, marine biology, and field ecology. As a community ecologist interested in natural and managed marine, dune, and estuarine communities, Dr. Hacker's research explores species interactions and how they influence community formation and species diversity.