Overview

As humans have come to dominate the earth, the ideal of studying and teaching ecology in pristine ecosystems has become impossible to achieve. Our planet is now a mosaic of ecosystems ranging from the relatively undisturbed to the completely built, with the majority of people living in urban environments. This accessible introduction to the principles of urban ecology provides students with the tools they need to understand these increasingly important urban ecosystems. It builds upon the themes of habitat modification and resource use to demonstrate how multiple ecological processes interact in cities and how human activity initiates chains of unpredictable unintended ecological consequences. Broad principles are supported throughout by detailed examples from around the world and a comprehensive list of readings from the primary literature. Questions, exercises and laboratories at the end of each chapter encourage discussion, hands-on study, active learning, and engagement with the world outside the classroom window.

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9780521769846

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Reviews

The urban environment is proliferating worldwide, and increasingly is becoming the habitat for humanity. As the authors point out, whereas in 1700 less than 1/10 of people lived in cities, today that fraction exceeds half the world's population. It is urgent to understand what the implications of this change are, and to form an ecosystem perspective on the city. Adler and Tanner have done so brilliantly in this wonderful and scholarly book, which manages to be simultaneously charming and educational. The book is constructed as an unfolding play, a comedy or tragedy depending on one's perspective, beginning with the introduction of the dramatis personae. This is followed by the action, in which the winners and losers of citification are identified, and the effects on the dynamics of materials and energy, culminating with a look to the future. The book can be read from beginning to end as a novel, but also is organized, with exercises, in such a way that it will make a superb text, providing a solid scientific perspective painlessly. This is, to my knowledge, an effort without peer, and certainly makes me want to teach such a course, or at least to take it. The authors have done a superb job, and the reader will be well rewarded. Simon A. Levin, Princeton University This primer of urban ecology spans an impressive breadth, viewing cities through the lenses of ecosystem, community, population, behavioral, and evolutionary ecology. Adler and Tanner bring these ideas together in a way that highlights the connections between urban ecology and human health, urban planning, and policy. The ability of the authors to communicate complex ideas in straightforward manner makes the book accessible to those new to the emerging discipline of urban ecology. The suggested discussion questions and exercises will surely prove to be useful resources for educators and students alike. Amanda D. Rodewald, Cornell University

Author Information

Frederick R. Adler is a professor in the Departments of Biology and Mathematics at the University of Utah. He has published research in a broad range of topics throughout mathematical biology, including biodiversity, population dynamics and spatial ecology. He was awarded the University of Utah's Distinguished Mentor Award in 2009. Colby J. Tanner is currently a visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne. His work focuses on the interface between the local environment and the social aspects of animal behaviour.

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