Ecology Evolution Biodiversity And Conservation

The field of study that focuses on the interactions among organisms and their environment is called ecology. It is a branch of biology that overlaps with the disciplines of genetics, ethology and evolutionary biology. The applications of ecology are prevalent in the fields of conservation biology, city planning, wetland management, community health, natural resource management and human social interaction. The understanding of evolution, biodiversity and the need for conservation is vital for a complete understanding of ecology. Adaptation, natural selection, inheritance, populations and life history are some of the concepts intrinsic to both evolutionary biology and ecology. Biodiversity is the variety of life and life's processes. It encompasses the genetic differences among living organisms, the ecosystems and communities they inhabit and the evolutionary and ecological processes required for their subsistence. The conservation and management of biodiversity requires innovative approaches to address the ecological scope of biodiversity. This book contains some path-breaking studies in the field of ecology. It is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex theories and insights in evolution, biodiversity and conservation. It is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.

An innovative introduction to ecology and evolution This unique textbook introduces undergraduate students to quantitative models and methods in ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation. It explores the core concepts shared by these related fields using tools and practical skills such as experimental design, generating phylogenies, basic statistical inference, and persuasive grant writing. And contributors use examples from their own cutting-edge research, providing diverse views to engage students and broaden their understanding. This is the only textbook on the subject featuring a collaborative "active learning" approach that emphasizes hands-on learning. Every chapter has exercises that enable students to work directly with the material at their own pace and in small groups. Each problem includes data presented in a rich array of formats, which students use to answer questions that illustrate patterns, principles, and methods. Topics range from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and population effective size to optimal foraging and indices of biodiversity. The book also includes a comprehensive glossary. In addition to the editors, the contributors are James Beck, Cawas Behram Engineer, John Gaskin, Luke Harmon, Jon Hess, Jason Kolbe, Kenneth H. Kozak, Robert J. Robertson, Emily Silverman, Beth Sparks-Jackson, and Anton Weisstein. Provides experience with hypothesis testing, experimental design, and scientific reasoning Covers core quantitative models and methods in ecology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation Turns "discussion sections" into "thinking labs" Professors: A supplementary Instructor's Manual is available for this book. It is restricted to teachers using the text in courses. For information on how to obtain a copy, refer to: http://press.princeton.edu/class_use/solutions.html

This edited volume will provide a treatment of evolutionary conservation biology that introduces and explains major concepts and also unifies recent theoretical and empirical advances.

Updated to reflect new research and developments, and with original international case studies, this excellent book remains the only introductory text to bring together the theory and practice that make up 'biodiversity' and 'conservation'.

Isolation, extinction, conservation, biodiversity, hotspots.

"This book provides the first synthesis of the field for 20 years, bringing together the latest ecological and evolutionary research on the South African global biodiversity hotspots of the Greater Cape Floristic Region--the iconic fynbos and succulent karoo"--Page 4 of cover.

This book is about phylogenetic diversity as an approach to reduce biodiversity losses in this period of mass extinction. Chapters in the first section deal with questions such as the way we value phylogenetic diversity among other criteria for biodiversity conservation; the choice of measures; the loss of phylogenetic diversity with extinction; the importance of organisms that are deeply branched in the tree of life, and the role of relict species. The second section is composed by contributions exploring methodological aspects, such as how to deal with abundance, sampling effort, or conflicting trees in analysis of phylogenetic diversity. The last section is devoted to applications, showing how phylogenetic diversity can be integrated in systematic conservation planning, in EDGE and HEDGE evaluations. This wide coverage makes the book a reference for academics, policy makers and stakeholders dealing with biodiversity conservation.

As anthropogenic environmental changes spread and intensify across the planet, conservation biologists have to analyze dynamics at large spatial and temporal scales. Ecological and evolutionary processes are then closely intertwined. In particular, evolutionary responses to anthropogenic environmental change can be so fast and pronounced that conservation biology can no longer afford to ignore them. To tackle this challenge, areas of conservation biology that are disparate ought to be integrated into a unified framework. Bringing together conservation genetics, demography, and ecology, this book introduces evolutionary conservation biology as an integrative approach to managing species in conjunction with ecological interactions and evolutionary processes. Which characteristics of species and which features of environmental change foster or hinder evolutionary responses in ecological systems? How do such responses affect population viability, community dynamics, and ecosystem functioning? Under which conditions will evolutionary responses ameliorate, rather than worsen, the impact of environmental change?