Toward a More Exact Ecology: 30th Symposium of the British Ecological Society(Symposia of the British Ecological Society)

Over the last 25 years ecology has emerged from being a predominantly descriptive subject to one with a more substantial theoretical framework underpinned by evidence from experiments. In this advance, improved technology had undoubtedly played a most significant role; few ecologists could operate without a computer to hand and many branches of the subject require very sophisticated instrumentation. This period has also been seen much greater precision in the formation of hypothesis, a more general search for mechanisms, increasing integration with other disciplines and increasing demands for applications of the lessons learned. In the light of the progress made in ecology and widening public recognition of the problems to be solved, the future looks very promising. This symposium volume is aimed at considering the most fruitful current approaches and technologies, determining the major obstacles and reviewing the most likely profitable lines of advance.

Table of Contents:
Foreword; Preface; Part I. Introduction; 1. Toward a more exact ecology: a personal view of the issues P. J. Grubb; Part II. Physiological Processes in Free-Living Organisms; 2. Gas exchange of plants in the field S. P. Long; 3. Telemetric recording of physiological data from free-living animals P. J. Butler; 4. Determination of respiration rates of free-living animals by the double-labelling technique D. M. Bryant; Part III. Control of Population Size; 5. Analysis of insect population dynamics W. W. Murdoch; 6. Control of population size in birds: the grey partridge as a case study G. R. Potts and N. J. Aebischer; 7. Mechanisms in plant population control E. Van Der Meijden; Part IV. Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology; 8. The reproductive ecology of plants and eusocial animals D. G. Lloyd; 9. Comparative studies in evolutionary ecology: using the data base P. H. Harvey and M. D. Pagel; 10. An experimentalists approach to the role of costs of reproduction in the evolution of life-histories L. Partridge; Part V. Interrelationships between Organisms; 11. Factors affecting the relative abundance of forest tree species H. H. Shugart and D. L. Urban; 12. Insect herbivory and plant defence theory P. J. Edwards; 13. Butterfly-ant mutualisms N. E. Pierce; Part VI. Ecosystem Ecology; 14. Energy flow and productivity in the oceans R. E. Ulanowicz; 15. Soils as components and controllers of ecosystem processes E. A. Paul; 16. Forest decline in central Europe: the unravelling of multiple causes G. H. M. Krause; 17. Water pollution and the management of ecosystems: a case study of science and scientist B. Moss; 18. Toward an exact human ecology M. Slesser; Indexes.

About the Author :
Peter Grubb is Professor of Ecology at the University of Cambridge. John Whittaker is Professor at the University of Lancaster.