false 103274 2 <p> In recent times, the science of ecology has been rejuvenated and has moved to a central position in biology. This volume contains eighteen original, major contributions by leaders in the field, all associates of the late Robert MacArthur, whose work has stimulated many of the recent developments in ecology. The intellectual ferment of the field is reflected in these papers, which offer new models for ecological processes, new applications of theoretical and quantitative techniques, and new methods for analyzing and interpreting a wide variety of empirical data. </p><p> The first five chapters explore the evolution of species abundance and diversity (R. Levins, E. Leigh, J. MacArthur, R. May, and M. Rosenzweig). The theory of loop analysis is newly applied to understanding stability of species communities under both mendelian and group selection. Species abundance relations, population fluctuations, and continental patterns of species diversity are illustrated and interpreted theoretically. The next section examines the competitive strategies of optimal resource allocation variously employed in plant life histories (W. Schaffer and M. Gadgil), bird diets and foraging techniques (H. Hespenheide), butterfly seasonal flights (A. Shapiro), and forest succession examined by the theory of Markov processes (H. Horn). </p><p> The seven chapters of the third section study the structure of species communities, by comparing different natural communities in similar habitats (M. Cody, J. Karr and F. James, E. Pianka, J. Brown, J. Diamond), or by manipulating field situations experimentally (R. Patrick, J. Connell). The analyses are of communities of species as diverse as freshwater stream organisms, desert lizards and rodents, birds, invertebrates, and plants. These studies yield insights into the assembly of continental and insular communities, convergent evolution of morphology and of ecological structure, and the relative roles of predation, competition, and harsh physical conditions in limiting species ranges. </p><p> Finally, the two remaining chapters illustrate how ecological advances depend on interaction of theory with field and laboratory observations (G. E. Hutchinson), and how ecological studies such as those of this volume may find practical application to conservation problems posed by man's accelerating modification of the natural world (E. Wilson and E. Willis). </p> 99565 6 1975 Ecology and Evolution of Communities (Belknap Press) total:3|5:0|4:0|3:3|2:0|1:0| 3 9 14 0 3 0 false false Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Tue Nov 10 14:39:15 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 10 14:39:15 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Fri Sep 18 15:47:24 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 18 15:47:25 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Aug 24 22:40:00 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 24 22:40:00 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jun 15 18:10:19 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 15 18:10:19 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Jun 06 20:46:36 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 06 20:46:36 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Apr 22 19:25:43 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 22 19:25:43 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jan 22 22:56:34 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 22 22:56:34 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Mon Dec 08 10:34:29 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 08 10:34:29 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Tue Dec 02 14:25:05 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 02 14:25:05 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Thu Aug 21 08:05:20 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 21 08:05:20 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Aug 06 07:57:15 -0700 2008 Wed Aug 06 07:57:15 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Tue Mar 18 18:04:31 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 18 18:04:31 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Tue Dec 04 23:05:31 -0800 2007 Tue Dec 04 23:05:31 -0800 2007 0 0 false false Sun Oct 14 21:44:33 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 14 21:44:37 -0700 2007 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=103274