Toward a More Exact Ecology
30th Symposium of the British Ecological Society

This symposium volume is aimed at considering the most fruitful current approaches and technologies.

Peter J. Grubb (Edited by), John B. Whittaker (Edited by)

9780521100632, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 January 2009

480 pages, 72 b/w illus. 28 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.7 kg

Over the last 25 years ecology has emerged from being a predominantly descriptive subject to one with a more substantial theoretical framework underpinned by evidence from experiments. In this advance, improved technology had undoubtedly played a most significant role; few ecologists could operate without a computer to hand and many branches of the subject require very sophisticated instrumentation. This period has also been seen much greater precision in the formation of hypothesis, a more general search for mechanisms, increasing integration with other disciplines and increasing demands for applications of the lessons learned. In the light of the progress made in ecology and widening public recognition of the problems to be solved, the future looks very promising. This symposium volume is aimed at considering the most fruitful current approaches and technologies, determining the major obstacles and reviewing the most likely profitable lines of advance.

Foreword
Preface
Part I. Introduction
1. Toward a more exact ecology: a personal view of the issues P. J. Grubb
Part II. Physiological Processes in Free-Living Organisms
2. Gas exchange of plants in the field S. P. Long
3. Telemetric recording of physiological data from free-living animals P. J. Butler
4. Determination of respiration rates of free-living animals by the double-labelling technique D. M. Bryant
Part III. Control of Population Size
5. Analysis of insect population dynamics W. W. Murdoch
6. Control of population size in birds: the grey partridge as a case study G. R. Potts and N. J. Aebischer
7. Mechanisms in plant population control E. Van Der Meijden
Part IV. Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology
8. The reproductive ecology of plants and eusocial animals D. G. Lloyd
9. Comparative studies in evolutionary ecology: using the data base P. H. Harvey and M. D. Pagel
10. An experimentalists approach to the role of costs of reproduction in the evolution of life-histories L. Partridge
Part V. Interrelationships between Organisms
11. Factors affecting the relative abundance of forest tree species H. H. Shugart and D. L. Urban
12. Insect herbivory and plant defence theory P. J. Edwards
13. Butterfly-ant mutualisms N. E. Pierce
Part VI. Ecosystem Ecology
14. Energy flow and productivity in the oceans R. E. Ulanowicz
15. Soils as components and controllers of ecosystem processes E. A. Paul
16. Forest decline in central Europe: the unravelling of multiple causes G. H. M. Krause
17. Water pollution and the management of ecosystems: a case study of science and scientist B. Moss
18. Toward an exact human ecology M. Slesser
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]