Ecology in Action

Fred D. Singer is Professor Emeritus of Biology at Radford University, where he has taught courses including general ecology, field ecology, and climate change ecology for 25 years. He was awarded the 2000 Radford Foundation Distinguished Creative Scholar Award in recognition of his work in developing dual research programs into spider behavioral and community ecology as well as approaches to active learning.

'Dr. Singer's book is a masterpiece of ecological knowledge. I love how he improved upon the first edition with new information throughout, much of which builds upon classic studies. The increased emphasis on climate change in the second edition is a reflection not only of the time we live in, but of Dr. Singer's elegant response, providing an opportunity for the next generation not only to understand the existential problem we are facing, but also to be prepared with the tools and knowledge of how to effectively deal with a changing climate. Those sections are almost worth the price of admission alone, but the rest of the text, which is an in-depth look at all aspects of ecology and a student-centered focus on problem solving and learning how to be ecologists, continues to make this the best ecology text on the market.' Howard Whiteman, Murray State University

• Preface; Acknowledgments; Part I. Introduction and the Physical Environment: 1. What is ecology in action?; 2. The physical environment; 3. The carbon cycle and climate change; Part II. Evolutionary and Organismal Ecology: 4. Evolution and adaptation; 5. Physiological and evolutionary ecology of acquiring nutrients and energy; 6. Physiological and evolutionary ecology of temperature and water relations; 7. Behavioral ecology; Online case study 1. Bernd Heinrich: studying adaptation in the field and the laboratory; Part III. Population Ecology: 8. Life history evolution; 9. Population distribution and dispersal movement; 10. Population abundance and growth; 11. Conservation ecology; Online case study 2. Jane Goodall and Anne Pusey: researching the chimpanzees of Gombe; Part IV. Community Ecology: 12. Interspecific competition; 13. Predation and other exploitative interactions; 14. Facilitation; 15. Complex interactions and food webs; 16. Biological diversity and community stability; Online case study 3. Dan Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs: community interactions and tropical restoration through biodiversity conservation; Part V. Ecosystem and Global Ecology: 17. Ecosystem structure and energy flow; 18. Nutrient cycles: global, regional and local; 19. Disturbance and succession; 20. Geographic and landscape ecology; 21. Climate change ecology; Online case study 4. Jane Lubchenco: community, ecosystem and global ecology; Glossary; Credits; References; Index.