Essentials of Ecology, 3rd Edition

Full contents vi

Preface x

Acknowledgments xii

Part I Introduction 1

1 Ecology and how to do it 3

2 Ecology's evolutionary backdrop 36

Part II Conditions and Resources 67

3 Physical conditions and the availability of resources 69

4 Conditions, resources and the world’s communities 110

Part III Individuals, Populations, Communities and Ecosystems 143

5 Birth, death and movement 145

6 Interspecific competition 182

7 Predation, grazing and disease 217

8 Evolutionary ecology 251

9 From populations to communities 281

10 Patterns in species richness 323

11 The flux of energy and matter through ecosystems 357

Part IV Applied Issues in Ecology 387

12 Sustainability 389

13 Habitat degradation 423

14 Conservation 455

References 483

Index 495