Foundation concepts: The environment -- The system -- Hierarchial organization -- Land and water systems: The ecosphere, with comments on the Gaia hypothesis and the biosphere -- Energy dynamics -- The composition of the earth -- The biome -- The landscape -- The watershed -- The ecotope -- Species diversity -- Primary production and decomposition -- Ecological succession --The population and the individual: The population as a demographic unit -- Life-history adaptations -- The individual organism -- Body size and climate space -- Speciation and natural selection --Interaction between individuals and species: Interactions between individuals -- Mutualism -- Competition -- Predation -- Coevolution and niche -- The biotic community -- Island biogeography -- Human ecology -- Conclusion : ecology, environment and ethics
Summary
Presents key concepts of environmental science in a style that can be understood by those who are not scientists
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-247) and index
