Ecological Modeling: A Common-Sense Approach to Theory and Practice is a down-to-earth guide for students, teachers, and professional ecologists.

The text candidly addresses the question "What do I really need to know to begin building and using ecological models in a responsible manner?" In addition to providing a common-sense introduction to the basic principles of systems modeling, the authors suggest a practical strategy for dealing with pitfalls commonly encountered during model development. The ties between theory and practice, which beginning modelers often find so elusive, are demystified via the step-by-step development of three models representing ecological systems of increasing complexity.

The coauthors infuse the text with complimentary perspectives from the first (Grant) and most recent (Swannack) generations of ecological modelers.