Ecological Orbits

Ecological Orbits PDF Author: Lev Ginzburg
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190290595
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 183

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Book Description
A famous ecologist and a philosopher of science team up to offer a fresh new approach to population biology and ecology. Challenging the traditionally accepted Lotka-Volterra model, which is based on predator-prey interactions, this new model emphasizes maternal effects, specifically the significance of a mother's interest in the success of her female offspring.

Ecological Orbits

Ecological Orbits PDF Author: Lev Ginzburg
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198037546
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 183

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Book Description
A famous ecologist and a philosopher of science team up to offer a fresh new approach to population biology and ecology. Challenging the traditionally accepted Lotka-Volterra model, which is based on predator-prey interactions, this new model emphasizes maternal effects, specifically the significance of a mother's interest in the success of her female offspring.

How Species Interact

How Species Interact PDF Author: Roger Arditi
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199913846
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 185

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Book Description
Understanding the functioning of ecosystems requires the understanding of the interactions between consumer species and their resources. How do these interactions affect the variations of population abundances? How do population abundances determine the impact of predators on their prey? The view defended in this book is that the "null model" that most ecologists tend to use is inappropriate because it assumes that the amount of prey consumed by each predator is insensitive to the number of conspecifics. The authors argue that the amount of prey available per predator, rather than the absolute abundance of prey, is the basic determinant of the dynamics of predation. This so-called ratio dependence is shown to be a much more reasonable "null model."

Encyclopedia of Ecology

Encyclopedia of Ecology PDF Author: Brian D. Fath
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0444641300
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2786

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Book Description
Encyclopedia of Ecology, Second Edition, Four Volume Set continues the acclaimed work of the previous edition published in 2008. It covers all scales of biological organization, from organisms, to populations, to communities and ecosystems. Laboratory, field, simulation modelling, and theoretical approaches are presented to show how living systems sustain structure and function in space and time. New areas of focus include micro- and macro scales, molecular and genetic ecology, and global ecology (e.g., climate change, earth transformations, ecosystem services, and the food-water-energy nexus) are included. In addition, new, international experts in ecology contribute on a variety of topics. Offers the most broad-ranging and comprehensive resource available in the field of ecology Provides foundational content and suggests further reading Incorporates the expertise of over 500 outstanding investigators in the field of ecology, including top young scientists with both research and teaching experience Includes multimedia resources, such as an Interactive Map Viewer and links to a CSDMS (Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System), an open-source platform for modelers to share and link models dealing with earth system processes

Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology

Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology PDF Author: WALTER DODDS
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520944542
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book 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.

Ecology for Nonecologists

Ecology for Nonecologists PDF Author: Frank R. Spellman
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0865871973
Category : Ecology
Languages : en
Pages : 364

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Book Description
Written for anyone who works with chemicals or has a general interest in ecology, this book examines the interrelationship of life forms in our environment and provides straightforward explanations about the complicated interactions among nature and humans. Emphasizing basic concepts, definitions, and descriptions, the author presents illustrative problems in terms of commonly used ecological parameters to provide readers with enough information to make technical and personal decisions about ecology. Funneling the broad, multidisciplinary field of ecology, which incorporates aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, meteorology, agriculture, forestry, and more into a single stream, the author provides those with backgrounds in only a handful, or even none, of these disciplines with an easy-to-read understanding of the functions and values of ecology and its interrelationships with other sciences, including ecology's direct impact on our lives. Organized into three parts, this book examines the fundamentals of ecology, the role of biodiversity, and the practical side of ecology. Readers will examine such topics as biogeochemical cycles, ecological pyramids, and the laws of population ecology. They will also examine species, terrestrial ecosystems, and aquatic systems. Each chapter ends with a Chapter Review Test.

Autecology

Autecology PDF Author: Gimme H. Walter
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482214156
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 459

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Book Description
This book spells out the theoretical structure, methodology and philosophy of the science of autecology. The autecological approach focuses on the interactions of individual organisms (and their species-specific adaptations) with the spatio-temporal dynamics of their environment as a basis for interpreting patterns of diversity and abundance in nat

The Theory of Ecology

The Theory of Ecology PDF Author: Samuel M. Scheiner
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226736873
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 416

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Book Description
Despite claims to the contrary, the science of ecology has a long history of building theories. Many ecological theories are mathematical, computational, or statistical, though, and rarely have attempts been made to organize or extrapolate these models into broader theories. The Theory of Ecology brings together some of the most respected and creative theoretical ecologists of this era to advance a comprehensive, conceptual articulation of ecological theories. The contributors cover a wide range of topics, from ecological niche theory to population dynamic theory to island biogeography theory. Collectively, the chapters ably demonstrate how theory in ecology accounts for observations about the natural world and how models provide predictive understandings. It organizes these models into constitutive domains that highlight the strengths and weaknesses of ecological understanding. This book is a milestone in ecological theory and is certain to motivate future empirical and theoretical work in one of the most exciting and active domains of the life sciences.

The Handbook of Environmental Health

The Handbook of Environmental Health PDF Author: Frank R. Spellman
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
ISBN: 0810886863
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 425

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Book Description
Environmental issues, global warming, pollution, and chemical dumping, are ever present in the news. But what about the health problems these issues pose? Frank Spellman and Melissa Stoudt identify the hazardous environmental issues and explain the science behind the dangers to our health. The Handbook of Environmental Health begins with defining the most commonly used terms, clearly explained for any student to learn and understand. Then each chapter tackles a different issue, outlining its scientific concepts and relating it to our health, with case studies or scenarios to bring the concepts to life. Lastly, the chapters conclude with thought-provoking questions. The authors also provide solutions to control the factors that harm our health, making this handbook a valuable resource for any student, library, or one interested in the dangers of environmental health.

Philosophy of Complex Systems

Philosophy of Complex Systems PDF Author:
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080931227
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 951

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Book Description
The domain of nonlinear dynamical systems and its mathematical underpinnings has been developing exponentially for a century, the last 35 years seeing an outpouring of new ideas and applications and a concomitant confluence with ideas of complex systems and their applications from irreversible thermodynamics. A few examples are in meteorology, ecological dynamics, and social and economic dynamics. These new ideas have profound implications for our understanding and practice in domains involving complexity, predictability and determinism, equilibrium, control, planning, individuality, responsibility and so on.Our intention is to draw together in this volume, we believe for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the manifold philosophically interesting impacts of recent developments in understanding nonlinear systems and the unique aspects of their complexity. The book will focus specifically on the philosophical concepts, principles, judgments and problems distinctly raised by work in the domain of complex nonlinear dynamical systems, especially in recent years.-Comprehensive coverage of all main theories in the philosophy of Complex Systems -Clearly written expositions of fundamental ideas and concepts -Definitive discussions by leading researchers in the field -Summaries of leading-edge research in related fields are also included

Environmental Science

Environmental Science PDF Author: Frank R. Spellman
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0810886103
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 733

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Book Description
Environmental Science: Principles and Practices provides the scientific principles, concepts, applications, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and manmade, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions (such as renewable energy sources) for resolving and even preventing them. Frank R. Spellman and Melissa Stoudt introduce the science of the environmental mediums of air, water, soil, and biota to undergraduate students. Interdisciplinary by nature, environmental science embraces a wide array of topics. Environmental Science: Principles and Practices brings these topics together under several major themes, including 1.How energy conversions underlie all ecological processes 2.How the earth's environment functions as an integrated system 3.How human activities alter natural systems 4.How the role of culture, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions 5.How human survival depends on practical ideas of stewardship and sustainability Environmental Science: Principles and Practices is an ideal resource for students of science in the classroom and at home, in the library and the lab.