Ecology: 5th Edition (5th Edition)

Author: Sun Ruyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The English edition, The Economy of Nature, is one of the most famous and widely used ecology textbooks in the United States. The textbook is organized into seven parts: Life and the Natural Environment, Ecosystems, Organisms, Populations, Interspecific Interactions, Communities, and Applied Ecology. The author consistently adheres to three principles in this introductory ecology book: a solid foundation in natural history, the organism as the fundamental unit of ecology, and the centrality of evolutionary theory in ecological research. The book strikes a well-balanced approach between theory, experimental research, and empirical examples of ecological models. Not only does it dedicate Chapters 25 and 26 to applied ecology, but it also uses highly practical examples to introduce fundamental principles in almost every chapter. The author places particular emphasis on the impact and destruction of human activities on various ecosystem processes and clearly states that the key to human sustainable survival lies in establishing a continuous interaction between humans and the biosphere—meaning the protection of the biosphere and the ecological processes of ecosystems. Therefore, learning ecology is essential. The book is meticulously organized, with a strong focus on key concepts. It includes 175 technique blocks embedded in the main text to help explain fundamental concepts and mathematical models. For example, the "Ecologists in the Field" block describes classic and experimental research cases, while the "Applied Ecology" block at the end of each chapter provides comprehensive review questions to assess students' knowledge. The textbook places great importance on teacher-student interaction during the educational process, cultivating students' self-learning and preliminary research skills. It is rich in content and illustrated with visuals. It serves as a textbook for environmental science and ecology majors at universities and colleges and can also be used by scientific and technical personnel engaged in environmental protection.