This book brings together a set of approaches to the study of individual-species ecology based on the analysis of spatial variations of abundance. Distribution ecology assumes that ecological phenomena can be understood when analyzing the extrinsic (environmental) or intrinsic (physiological constraints, population mechanisms) that correlate with this spatial variation. Ecological processes depend on geographical scales, so their analysis requires following environmental heterogeneity. At small scales, the effects of biotic factors of ecosystems are strong, while at large scales, abiotic factors such as climate, govern ecological functioning. Responses of organisms also depend on scales: at small scales, adaptations dominate, i.e. the ability of organisms to respond adaptively using habitat decision rules that maximize their fitness; at large scales, limiting traits dominate, i.e., tolerance ranges to environmental conditions.

Inhalt

Part I: Concepts and definitions.- 1. Concepts and DefinitionsPart II: Levels within species.- 2. Distribution of individuals.- 3. Distribution of aggregations.- 4 Distribution of societies.- 5. Distribution of subpopulations .- 6 Distribution of populations.- 7. Distribution of species.- Part III: Levels outside species.- 8. Distribution of species assemblages.- Part IV: Applications.- 10. Distribution ecology in conservation biology.- 11. Distribution ecology in animal production.- Part V: Conclusions and prospects.- 12. Conclusions