Community Ecology

by Peter J. Morin

Community ecology : the study of the patterns and processes involving two or more species - has developed rapidly in the last two decades, driven by new and more sophisticated research techniques, advances in mathematical theory and modeling, and the increasing pressure on the environment wrought by humans. Once a purely descriptive science, it is now one of the most forward-looking areas of scientific inquiry.
Morin skillfully guides the reader through the main tenets and central concepts of community ecology - competition, predation, food webs, indirect effects, habitat selection, diversity, and succession.
In an attempt to introduce the reader to the most balanced coverage possible, Morin includes examples drawn from both the aquatic and terrestrial realm and from both plant and animal species. Balancing theory with experimentation and drawing on exciting new studies to complement the historical foundations of the discipline, he also stresses that both the empirical and theoretical approaches are necessary to drive ecology foward into the new millenium.
The final chapter on applied community ecology ably demonstrates how community ecological processes have a wide environmental relevance. Although in its infancy, the application of community ecology to emerging problems in human-dominated ecosystems could mitigate problems as diverse as management strategies for important diseases transmitted by animals and the restoration and reconstruction of viable communities.
Required reading for all students and practitioners interested in community phenomena, Community Ecology marks an important contribution to the development of this protean discipline.

Genres: Science, Ecology, Biology

434 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 1999

Reviews

[James Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like an expanded outline of the history of community ecology. There is some reflection on what the important remaining questions are. But the information seems dated (I think the latest citation I saw was from 2009). I can only remember two times when big data ideas were used, and one was a simulation. The figures often have bad captions: not labeling lines or points, not saying what the figure illustrates, for example. Some of the figures were just curves to show that sometimes something might increase, and sometimes decrease.

I did appreciate the occasional discussion of microbial ecology or of experiments with microcosms. And I think it does convey the basic concepts and questions in community ecology. Hint: just reading the last section of each chapter is a good idea, since they all re-state the entire chapter in just a paragraph or two.

My takeaway was the the field of community ecology has inadequate theory and little experimentation for the important issues. This may, in fact, be true.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent textbook, you really learn the big ecology greats in the field. Author is an excellent professor at Rutgers, highly recommend the course.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book. The layout of each chapter makes it easy to comprehend the main points. The author also provides numerous case-studies that are relevant to important topics.