Principles of Population Dynamics and Their Application

✍ Scribed by Alan A. Berryman

• Publisher: Garland Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 133
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book provides an introduction to population dynamics, exploring rules that govern change in any dynamic system and applying these general principles to populations of living organisms. Principles of Population Dynamics and their Application is aimed at applied ecologists, resource managers. and pest managers. It is also aimed at undergraduate students taking courses in forestry, fisheries, widlife and pest management.

✦ Table of Contents

Part One THEORY
1 Dynamics: theoretical ecology and the rules of change 3
2 Population: the central concept 11
3 The first principle: exponential growth 20
4 The second principle: co-operation 26
5 The third principle: competition 39
6 The fourth principle: circular causality 56
7 The fifth principle: limiting factors 70
Part Two ANALYSIS
8 Classification: ordering nature’s rhythms 85
9 Diagnosis: explaining nature’s rhythms 93
10 Modelling: predicting nature’s rhythms 114
Part Three PRACTISE
11 Sandhill cranes: territorial behaviour? 135
12 Cone beetles: competition for food? 143
13 Spruce needleminers: parasitoids? 149
14 Mountain pine beetles: co-operation? 156
15 Rock lobsters: predation? 165
16 Human beings: retrospect and prospect 176
References 189
Symbols 220
Glossary 225
Appendix 233
Index 236