num_pages: 208
description: Global temperatures and seawater levels rise; the worlds smallest porpoise species looms at the edge of extinction; and a tiny emerald beetle from Japan flourishes in North Americabut why does it matter? Who cares? With this concise accessible and up-to-date book Charles J. Krebs answers critics and enlightens students and environmental advocates alike revealing not why phenomena like these deserve our attention but why they demand it. Highlighting key principles in ecologyfrom species extinction to the suns role in powering ecosystemseach chapter introduces a general question illustrates that question with real-world examples and links it to pressing ecological issues in which humans play a central role such as the spread of invasive species climate change overfishing and biodiversity conservation. While other introductions to ecology are rooted in complex theory math or practice and relegate discussions of human environmental impacts and their societal implications to sidebars and appendices Why Ecology Matters interweaves these important discussions throughout. It is a book rooted in our contemporary world delving into ecological issues that are perennial timeless but could not be more timely.
language: English
title: Why Ecology Matters
publisher: University of Chicago Press