Community Ecology

by Peter J. Morin

All life on earth occurs in natural assemblages called communities. Community ecology is the study of patterns and processes involving these collections of two or more species. Communities are typically studied using a diversity of techniques, including observations of natural history, statistical descriptions of natural patterns, laboratory and field experiments, and mathematical modelling. Community patterns arise from a complex assortment of processes including competition, predation, mutualism, indirect effects, habitat selection, which result in the most complex biological entities on earth – including iconic systems such as rain forests and coral reefs. This book introduces the reader to a balanced coverage of concepts and theories central to community ecology, using examples drawn from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems, and focusing on  animal, plant, and microbial species. The historical development of key concepts is described using descriptions of classic studies, while examples of exciting new developments in recent studies are used to point toward future advances in our understanding of community organization. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the crucial interplay between observations, experiments, and mathematical models. This second updated edition is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and  established scientists  who seek a broad overview of community ecology. The book has developed from a course in community ecology that has been taught by the author since 1983. Figures and tables can be downloaded for free from

Genres: Science, Ecology, Biology

418 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.