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Examining Ecology: Exercises in Environmental Biology and Conservation explains foundational ecological principles using a hands-on approach that features analyzing data, drawing graphs, and undertaking practical exercises that simulate field work. The book provides students and lecturers with real life examples to demonstrate basic principles. The book helps students, instructors, and those new to the field learn about the principles of ecology and conservation by completing a series of problems. Prior knowledge of the subject is not assumed; the work requires users to be able to perform simple calculations and draw graphs. Most of the exercises in the book have been used widely by the author's own students over a number of years, and many are based on real data from published research. Exercises are succinct with a broad number of options, which is a unique feature among similar books on this topic.
Examining Ecology is primarily intended as a resource for students, academics, and instructors studying, teaching, and working in zoology, ecology, biology, wildlife conservation and management, ecophysiology, behavioural ecology, population biology and ecology, environmental biology, or environmental science. Students will be able to progress through the book attempting each exercise in a logical sequence, beginning with basic principles and working up to more complex exercises. Alternatively they may wish to focus on specific chapters on specialist areas, e.g., population dynamics. Many of the exercises introduce students to mathematical methods (calculations, use of formulae, drawing of graphs, calculating simple statistics). Other exercises simulate fieldwork projects, allowing users to 'collect' and analyze data which would take considerable time and effort to collect in the field.
1. Biodiversity and taxonomy
2. Abiotic factors and ecophysiology
3. Ecosystems, energy and nutrients
4. Determining abundance and distribution
5. Population growth
6. Species interactions
7. Behavioural ecology and ecological genetics
8. Environmental pollution and perturbations
9. Conservation Biology
10. Statistics
11. Multiple choice questions
12. Answers to exercises and multiple choice questions
Dr Paul A. Rees is Senior Lecturer in Wildlife and has been an instructor for various levels for nearly four decades. In 2002, he introduced Wildlife Programmes at Salford and in 2005 established the first undergraduate program in the UK focusing on zoo biology (BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology). He currently teaches courses in Introduction to Zoo Biology, Zoo Animal Management, Zoo Organisation and Regulation, and Wildlife & the Law. His research interests include the behaviour and welfare of animals in zoos (especially elephants), the ecology and behaviour of mammals (particularly African large mammals), biological education and wildlife law. He has a particular interest in the importance of policy and legislation in influencing the pivotal role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity and the welfare of animals living in zoos. He has previously authored books in the area including An Introduction to Zoo Biology and Management (2011).
