Elements of Ecology (5th Edition) [Paperback]

Robert L. Smith (Author), Thomas M. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0321068785 | ISBN-13: 978-0321068781 | Edition: 5

This book provides readers with a popular modular organization and an easy-to-read writing style that explains the basics of ecology. The authors have updated the Fifth Edition to reflect the current emphasis on the physical environment, global environmental change, and adaptation/evolution. As a result, there are new chapters, a new structure, and new topics found in the table of contents. These changes provide readers with an understanding of the principles governing the relationships between plants, animals, and other living organisms within their environment, and give them skills to critically evaluating public issues related to ecology. Abundant real-life examples illustrate and clarify the book's emphasis on understanding ecological patterns within an evolutionary framework. For instructors and students, or anyone interested in ecology.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert L. Smith holds a B.S. in Animal Science, an M.S. in Wildlife Biology along with a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology from Cornell University. Currently, he is a professor of Ecology at West Virginia University. He has spent over 30 years teaching Ecology and conducting field research throughout the world.

His teaching responsibilities have involved mostly undergraduate courses in general ecology and graduate courses in population ecology and wildlife management. His research has included forest-fire related problems in southern West Virginia, vegetational development and succession on abandoned and reclaimed surface mines, the relation between forest vegetational structure and the forest bird community, and forest habitat assessment and habitat evaluation procedures based on vegetational structure.

Smith has served as a consultant to congressional committees, workshops on environmental education and energy and environmental problems, the National Landmarks program of the U.S. Department of Interior, National Research Council Task Forces on wildlife and fisheries issues and ecological classification systems for implementing environmental quality evaluation procedures. He is the author of numerous articles and reviews as well as the author of three ecology texts: Ecology and Field Biology, Elements of Ecology and Ecology of Man: An Ecosystem Approach, Harper and Row, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 682 pages
• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings; 5 edition (July 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321068785
• ISBN-13: 978-0321068781
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,173,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and Timely Ecological Knowledge, February 26, 2010

By 

Richard B. Taber "Northern Woodsman" (Central New York State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elements of Ecology (7th Edition) (Paperback)

Robert Leo Smith is one of the "Grand Gurus" of ecology textbook writers. I have been reading his textbooks since the early 1970's, most notably his flagship book "Ecology and Field Biology" which has gone through numerous editions, and which have been used in countless college courses throughout America. I have read them, taught with them, studied them, and often refer to them. They contain a huge amount of ecological knowledge, which forms the basis for many other ecologically oriented disciplines, such as forestry, agriculture, wildlife, and environmental science:(legions of natural resource professionals cut their "ecology" teeth with this text). This recent edition of "Elements of Ecology" once again shows the expertise of Robert Leo Smith and his collaborator, Thomas Smith. This iteration contains 29 chapters, divided into eight parts. The parts consist of the physical environment, the organism and its environment, populations, species interactions, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, and ecological biogeography. It definitely requires a college reading level and ability, but I would not hesitate to use it as a reference in high school and AP courses. It is well written, well illustrated, and has very good summaries at the end of each chapter, along with study questions. I know that there are several good textbooks on ecology out there; this one would be my "go to" text for teaching a one semester general ecology course. In addition, there is a useful website that one can access when you buy a book which has a serial number you must input. The website contains useful vocabulary reviews, study questions and practice quizzes.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the field of ecological science, February 11, 2010

By 

J. Evans (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements of Ecology (7th Edition) (Paperback)

'Elements' is a very good introductory text for ecology students. Where it excels is in the breadth of material it covers and the admirable manner in which the authors lend necessary substance to each topic without bogging it down in ponderous detail. Students get a meaningful introduction to topics as varied as genetics and biogeography. The text is written in a clean, lucid style that neither condescends to students nor assumes that they're more advanced than they should be in their study of the subject matter. All around, this is a great pedagogical resource.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old editions are cheaper!, September 28, 2010

By 

attila_hunn - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Elements of Ecology (6th Edition) (Paperback)

I bought this book instead of the 7th edition because it was $80 cheaper!! The two editions are almost identical with 2 chapters switched.