A Primer of Ecology, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

Nicholas J. Gotelli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0878933182 | ISBN-13: 978-0878933181 | Edition: 4th

A Primer of Ecology, Fourth Edition presents a concise but detailed exposition of the most common mathematical models in population and community ecology. It is intended to demystify ecological models and the mathematics behind them by deriving the models from first principles. The book may be used as a self-teaching tutorial by students, as a primary textbook, or as a supplemental text to a general ecology textbook. The Primer explains in detail basic concepts of exponential and logistic population growth, age-structured demography, metapopulation dynamics, competition, predation, island biogeography, succession, and, in a chapter new to this edition, species richness. Each chapter is carefully graded from simple material that is appropriate for beginning undergraduates to advanced material, which is suited for upper-division undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Advanced topics include environmental and demographic stochasticity, discrete population growth and chaos, stage-structured demography, intraguild predation, nonlinear predator-prey isoclines, and passive sampling. Each chapter follows the same structure: model presentation and predictions, model assumptions, model variations, empirical examples, and problems. Essential equations are highlighted for students use. Intermediate algebraic expressions are also illustrated so that students see where the equations came from. New terms are introduced in the text in boldface type to alert students to novel concepts. The Primer contains more mathematical detail than many ecology textbooks, but avoids jargon and mathematical terminology that can intimidate students. Both simple and advanced problems are included, followed by fully worked solutions so that students can gain confidence and a better understanding of the models. Citations are kept to a minimum.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nicholas J. Gotelli is Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Vermont. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his Ph.D. at Florida State University. Dr. Gotelli currently serves on the Board of Editors of Ecology. His research interests include: experimental invertebrate community ecology; metapopulation dynamics; parasite ecology and the evolution of host behavior; and biogeography and island biology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Sinauer Associates, Inc.; 4th edition (May 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878933182
• ISBN-13: 978-0878933181
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easily one of the best on the topic, June 23, 2003

By 

Robert L. Gorena "schizaphis" (Houston, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Primer of Ecology (Paperback)

Four and one half stars.

Dr. Gotelli's book is the most successful which I am familiar at "demystifying" the mathematical concepts in ecology. "A primer of ecology" is very well organized and written so as not to frighten off the uninitiated, but covers the mathematics well enough to be an adequate refresher for those that have slipped in some areas. The inclusion of ecological succession in the 3rd edition is an important addition and not merely a reason to put out a new version. I highly recommend this text to anyone who is interested in learning about ecological study, and I think it would make an excellent senior undergraduate or supplemental graduate text.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotelli's work is one of the best Ecology books out there!!!, April 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Primer of Ecology (Paperback)

I had to read Gotelli's A Primer of Ecology for my Ecology class at Brown University. I thought that it was by far the most comprehensive and easily read book used in that class. The mathematical models were always backed up with empirical evidence to several models in the field. A definate must read for all ecologists!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great First Approach on Ecology, March 20, 2009

By 

Mariela G (Buenos Aires, Argentina.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Primer of Ecology, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

This book is a must for people starting to study ecology.
It's short, very well written and clear, concise, not oversimplifying, and it's very nice to read. It has real life examples too. It's true it doesn't go very deep, but it gives you the perfect fundation to go deeper after it, reading Begon for example, which is a good book but gives for granted a lot of concepts.
Anyone can read this book, because it starts fron absolut zero, which is the very best of it.