Primer of Ecology by Nicholas J Gotelli

by Nicholas J. Gotelli

With the aim of teaching students the essential models in population and community ecology, this book explains in detail the basic concepts of exponential and logistic population growth, age-structured demography, metapopulation dynamics, competition, predation and island biogeography. Each chapter is graded from simple material to advanced material, for both beginning undergraduates and upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates.

Genres: Ecology, Science, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Reference, Academic, Biology

Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracias Nicholas J. Gotelli, sin ti me habría echado la carrera.

[Sumwut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the first time I read a "textbook" front to cover and really absorbed the material! I learned a lot about the mathematical modeling of populations and communities. The equation derivations were superrrrrrb.
A fabulous book for ecology students! :D

[KM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This relatively concise, but dense book explains the foundational models of ecology: breaking down equations into their relevant parts, embracing analogies and describing case studies, and writing each chapter in a predictable format. I really appreciated its straightforwardness! I wish it were the first book I read upon entering grad school.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to skim through this book in under a week while I prepared for my preliminary exams for my PhD. I have to say, Gotelli did a great job of quickly summarizing many of the major quantitative topics in Ecology. It is perhaps a little daunting for a newcomer, but if you have had coursework in ecology and want a good refresher on all those pesky foundational math topics that we all know are important (but easily the nuances of) this is a great book to go with.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

MUCH better than the Vandermeer and Goldberg book on population and community ecology. This book has better figures, examples, and the text has fewer errors. I would suggest the newer 4th edition however (blue cover I think). Solid book and a great review of population ecology. For a comprehensive review of population AND community ecology I would suggest this book and the Mittelbach book titled "Community Ecology."

[Tj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent ecology text. It's focus is on the "black box math" aspect of ecological theoretical modeling. Gotelli is clear and concise in his explanation of how you get from one form of an equation to the next. He also does so in a non-threatening (non-mathematics) way. He makes it clear that you have to be no mathemagician to understand ecological modeling.

[Patrick Turgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great textbook to learn the mathematical aspects of Ecology. Very clear and to the point.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was assigned this book for my PhD comprehensive exam in Population Ecology. Excellent book that every student in the field should read, my only regret is not reading it sooner.