Brown, James H.

Science is interesting to Brown if "it changes my view of the natural world and challenges rather than confirms existing dogma." He does both in advocating a nonexperimental approach, based upon emergent statistical properties of individuals/species, to studying ecological and evolutionary processes that determine species diversity, abundance, and distribution. By linking population dynamics and species interactions (small-scale processes) with speciation, extinction, and range expansion/contraction (large-scale processes), Brown argues that "macroecology" has greater potential for generality than its reductionist, experimental counterpart. After developing macroecology's conceptual rationale, the book reflects a logical progression of data (primarily on mammals and birds, e.g., associations between local abundance and geographic distribution; patterns in body size, density, and energetics), mechanisms, hypothesis formulation, and a synthesis exploring the implications of macroecology to ecological, biogeographical, evolutionary, and conservation issues. Stimulating (should fitness be defined in purely energetic terms?) and provocative (ecosystem energy flow is not dominated by small organisms), and very well written, Brown's book is intellectually enriching. His somewhat nontraditional approach merits serious consideration. Verbal rather than mathematical models; comprehensive figure captions. Upper-division undergraduate through faculty.--Choice Review. In "Macroecology," James H. Brown proposes a radical new research agenda designed to broaden the scope of ecology to encompass vast geographical areas and very long time spans. While much ecological research is narrowly focused and experimental, providing detailed information that cannot be used to generalize from one ecological community or time period to another, macroecology draws on data from many disciplines to create a less detailed but much broader picture with greater potential for generalization. Integrating data from ecology, systematics, evolutionary biology, paleobiology, and biogeography to investigate problems that could only be addressed on a much smaller scale by traditional approaches, macroecology provides a richer, more complete understanding of how patterns of life have moved across the earth over time. Brown also demonstrates the advantages of macroecology for conservation, showing how it allows scientists to look beyond endangered species and ecological communities to consider the long history and large geographic scale of human impacts. An important reassessment of the direction of ecology by one of the most influential thinkers in the field, this work will shape future research in ecology and other disciplines. "This approach may well mark a major new turn in the road in the history of ecology, and I find it extremely exciting. The scope of Macroecology is tremendous and the book makes use of its author's exceptionally broad experience and knowledge. An excellent and important book."

Assembled here for the first time in one volume are forty classic papers that have laid the foundations of modern ecology. Whether by posing new problems, demonstrating important effects, or stimulating new research, these papers have made substantial contributions to an understanding of ecological processes, and they continue to influence the field today.

"Most of ecology is about metabolism: the ways that organisms use energy and materials. The energy requirements of individuals - their metabolic rates - vary predictably with their body size and temperature. Ecological interactions are exchanges of energy and materials between organisms and their environments. So metabolic rate affects ecological processes at all levels: individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Each chapter focuses on a different process, level of organization, or kind of organism. It lays a conceptual foundation and presents empirical examples. Together, the chapters provide an integrated framework that holds the promise for a unified theory of ecology.The book is intended to be accessible to upper-level undergraduate, and graduate students, but also of interest to senior scientists. Its easy-to-read chapters and clear illustrations can be used in lecture and seminar courses. Together they make for an authoritative treatment that will inspire future generations to study metabolic ecology"-- "Explains the new metabolic theory of ecology, puts it into context, and shows how it can be used to answer contemporary problems"--