Share

The Theory of Ecology

2011-07-15 Science
Download The Theory of Ecology PDF Online Free

Author :
Release : 2011-07-15
Genre : Science
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 865/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK


Book Synopsis The Theory of Ecology by : Samuel M. Scheiner

Download or read book The Theory of Ecology written by Samuel M. Scheiner. This book was released on 2011-07-15. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 Theory of Ecological Communities (MPB-57)

2020-09-15 Science
Download The Theory of Ecological Communities (MPB-57) PDF Online Free

Author :
Release : 2020-09-15
Genre : Science
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 999/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK


Book Synopsis The Theory of Ecological Communities (MPB-57) by : Mark Vellend

Download or read book The Theory of Ecological Communities (MPB-57) written by Mark Vellend. This book was released on 2020-09-15. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A plethora of different theories, models, and concepts make up the field of community ecology. Amid this vast body of work, is it possible to build one general theory of ecological communities? What other scientific areas might serve as a guiding framework? As it turns out, the core focus of community ecology—understanding patterns of diversity and composition of biological variants across space and time—is shared by evolutionary biology and its very coherent conceptual framework, population genetics theory. The Theory of Ecological Communities takes this as a starting point to pull together community ecology's various perspectives into a more unified whole. Mark Vellend builds a theory of ecological communities based on four overarching processes: selection among species, drift, dispersal, and speciation. These are analogues of the four central processes in population genetics theory—selection within species, drift, gene flow, and mutation—and together they subsume almost all of the many dozens of more specific models built to describe the dynamics of communities of interacting species. The result is a theory that allows the effects of many low-level processes, such as competition, facilitation, predation, disturbance, stress, succession, colonization, and local extinction to be understood as the underpinnings of high-level processes with widely applicable consequences for ecological communities. Reframing the numerous existing ideas in community ecology, The Theory of Ecological Communities provides a new way for thinking about biological composition and diversity.

Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology

2009-08-05 Nature
Download Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology PDF Online Free

Author :
Release : 2009-08-05
Genre : Nature
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 542/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK


Book Synopsis Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology by : WALTER DODDS

Download or read book Laws, Theories, and Patterns in Ecology written by WALTER DODDS. This book was released on 2009-08-05. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Foundations of Restoration Ecology

2016-11 Nature
Download Foundations of Restoration Ecology PDF Online Free

Author :
Release : 2016-11
Genre : Nature
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 972/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK


Book Synopsis Foundations of Restoration Ecology by : Society for Ecological Restoration International

Download or read book Foundations of Restoration Ecology written by Society for Ecological Restoration International. This book was released on 2016-11. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Society for Ecological Restoration"--Cover.

Towards a Thermodynamic Theory for Ecological Systems

2004-07-06 Science
Download Towards a Thermodynamic Theory for Ecological Systems PDF Online Free

Author :
Release : 2004-07-06
Genre : Science
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 672/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK


Book Synopsis Towards a Thermodynamic Theory for Ecological Systems by : S.E. Jorgensen

Download or read book Towards a Thermodynamic Theory for Ecological Systems written by S.E. Jorgensen. This book was released on 2004-07-06. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book presents a consistent and complete ecosystem theory based on thermodynamic concepts. The first chapters are devoted to an interpretation of the first and second law of thermodynamics in ecosystem context. Then Prigogine's use of far from equilibrium thermodynamic is used on ecosystems to explain their reactions to perturbations. The introduction of the concept exergy makes it possible to give a more profound and comprehensive explanation of the ecosystem's reactions and growth-patterns. A tentative fourth law of thermodynamic is formulated and applied to facilitate these explanations. The trophic chain, the global energy and radiation balance and pattern and the reactions of ecological networks are all explained by the use of exergy. Finally, it is discussed how the presented theory can be applied more widely to explain ecological observations and rules, to assess ecosystem health and to develop ecological models.

You may also like...