Observation and Ecology

The need to understand and address large-scale environmental problems that are difficult to study in controlled environments-issues ranging from climate change to overfishing to invasive species-is driving the field of ecology in new and important directions. Observation and Ecology documents that transformation, exploring how scientists and researchers are expanding their methodological toolbox to incorporate an array of new and reexamined observational approaches-from traditional ecological knowledge to animal-borne sensors to genomic and remote-sensing technologies-to track, study, and understand current environmental problems and their implications.

Observations in Ecology can play a key role in understanding our changing planet and the consequences of human activities on ecological processes. This book will serve as an important resource for future scientists and conservation leaders who are seeking a more holistic and applicable approach to ecological science.

Autorentext

Rafe Sagarin is an assistant research scientist, marine ecologist, and environmental policy analyst, Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona.Aníbal Pauchard is Associate Professor of Plant Ecology and Invasion Biology in the Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile.

Inhalt

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I. The Role of Observation in Ecological Science

1. An Observational Approach to Ecology

2. Observational Approaches in Historical Context

Part II. Using Observations in Ecology

3. Using All the Senses in Ecology

4. Using Technology to Expand Our Observational Senses

5. Local, Traditional, and Accidental Ecological Observers and Observations

Part III. The Challenges Posed by an Observational Approach

6. Dealing with Too Many Observations, and Too Few

7. Is Observation-Based Ecology Scientific?

Part IV. Beyond Academia: The Power of Observational Approaches

8. Ecology's Renewed Importance in Policy

9. Opening Nature's Door to a New Generation of Citizens and Ecologists

Conclusions

References

About the Authors

About the Contributors

Index.