Toward a More Exact Ecology: 30th Symposium of the British Ecological Society

by Edited by Peter J. Grubb , John B. Whittaker

• ISBN13: 9780521839976
• ISBN10: 0521839971
• Format: Hardcover
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Ecology has emerged from being a predominantly descriptive subject to one with a substantial theoretical framework underpinned by evidence from experiments. In this advance, improved technology has undoubtedly played a significant role - few ecologists could operate without a computer to hand and many branches of the subject require very sophisticated instrumentation. This period has also seen much greater precision in the formation of hypotheses, a more general search for mechanisms increasing integration with other disciplines and increasing demands for applications of the lessons learned. In light of the progress made in ecology, and widening public recognition of the problems to be solved, the future looks very promising. This volume considers the most fruitful current approaches and technologies, determining the major obstacles and reviewing the most likely profitable lines of advance.

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction: 1. Toward a more exact ecology: a personal view of the issues P. J. Grubb

Part II: 2. Gas exchange of plants in the field S. P. Long

3. Telemetric recordings of physiological data from free-living animals P. J. Butler

4. Determination of respiration rates of free-living animals by the double-labelling technique D. M. Bryant

Part III. Control of Population Size: 5. Analysis of insect population dynamics W. W. Murdoch and S. J. Walde

6. Control of population size in birds: the grey partridge as a casestudy G. R. Potts and N. J. Aebischer

7. Mechanisms in plant population control E. Van Der Meijden

Part IV. Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology: 8. The reproductive ecology of plants and eusocial animals D. G. Lloyd

9. Comparative studies in evolutionary ecology: using the database P. H. Harvey and M. D. Pagel

10. An experimentalist's approach to the role of costs of reproduction in the evolution of life-histories L. Partridge

Part V. Interrelationships between organisms: 11. Factors affecting the relative abundances of forest tree species H. H. Shugart and D. L. Urban

12. Insect herbivory and plant defence theory P. J. Edwards

13. Butterfly-ant mutualisms N. E. Pierce

Part VI. Ecosystem Ecology: 14. Energy flow and productivity in the oceans R. E. Ulanowicz

15. Soils as components and controllers of ecosystem processes E. A. Paul

Part VII. Applied Ecology: 16. Forest decline in Central Europe: the unravelling of multiple causes G. H. M. Krause

17. Water pollution and the management of ecosystems: a case study of science and scientist B. Moss

18. Toward an exact ecology M. Slesser.