Toward a Unified Ecology [Paperback]

Timothy F. H. Allen (Author), Thomas W. Hoekstra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0231069197 | ISBN-13: 978-0231069199 0

Offers the best general summary of the field, with a view toward fostering common disciplinary goals. Allen and Hoekstra begin with hierarchy theory as a basic premise and explain that the conventional 'levels' (ecosystems, landscapes, communities, populations, organisms) are not levels in themselves but criteria for observation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In my work I have tried to find ways of shortening the loop between ecological theory and practice. Heretofore, to do that, I've had to make reference to a score of books. Now I can refer both students and colleagues to one. -- Bruce L. Bandurski Ecomanagement Adviser, Intenational Joint Commission, U.S.A. and Canada

Review

In my work I have tried to find ways of shortening the loop between ecological theory and practice. Heretofore, to do that, I've had to make reference to a score of books. Now I can refer both students and colleagues to one.

(Bruce L. Bandurski, Ecomanagement Adviser, Intenational Joint Commission, U.S.A. and Canada )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231069197
• ISBN-13: 978-0231069199
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable approach to reconcile a pluralistic science under, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Toward a Unified Ecology (Hardcover)

The challenging idea to find a common point from where to unify a science as pluralistic in style, method, theory and subject as ecology, is taken up by the authors in a strikingly consistent way. The introduction of the notion of scale as a framework to re-order a vast amount of existing theories renders many new and provoking aspects to the scientists view on his or her own subject. Nevertheless, the authors never directly address implicit philosophical models of construction and re-construction they apply and hence fail to see there own work in a broader horizont. Instead, a certain reluctance to get to close to "esoteric argumentation" keeps them from any more theoretical justification that I charge as obligatory when a notion as strong as >scale< is introduced newly at a point as central and crucial as in this book. Focusing on >scale< not only implies focussing on a totally new frame, it implies drawing all questions related with quality/quantity interface problems finally into discussion.