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  • © 2012

Observation and Ecology

Broadening the Scope of Science to Understand a Complex World

  • The topic itself—renewed interest in observational approaches in ecology—is the main selling point

  • 2009 conference presentations on this topic at ESA and SCB/Flagstaff had enthusiastic, standing-room-only crowds

  • The “kind” of book this is—short, accessible, well-written, packed with ideas and topics for discussion—will be a strong selling point, particularly for students and professors looking for supplementary text

  • The authors are up-and-coming leaders in the next generation of ecologists Contributors of “text boxes” are well-known, established leaders in the ecology arena

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
    1. Introduction

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 1-12
  2. The Role of Observation in Ecological Science

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13
    2. An Observational Approach to Ecology

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 15-28
    3. Observational Approaches in Historical Context

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 29-44
  3. Using Observations in Ecology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 45-46
    2. Using All the Senses in Ecology

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 47-61
    3. Using Technology to Expand Our Observational Senses

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 63-73
  4. The Challenges Posed by an Observational Approach

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 87-88
    2. Dealing with Too Many Observations, and Too Few

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 89-108
    3. Is Observation-Based Ecology Scientific?

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 109-130
  5. Beyond Academia: The Power of Observational Approaches

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 131-131
    2. Ecology’s Renewed Importance in Policy

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 133-149
    3. Opening Nature’s Door to a New Generation of Citizens and Ecologists

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 151-166
    1. Conclusions

      • Rafe Sagarin, Aníbal Pauchard
      Pages 167-175
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 161-223

About this book

The need to understand and address large-scale environmental problems that are difficult to study in controlled environments—issues ranging from climate change to overfishing to invasive species—is driving the field of ecology in new and important directions. Observation and Ecology documents that transformation, exploring how scientists and researchers are expanding their methodological toolbox to incorporate an array of new and reexamined observational approaches-from traditional ecological knowledge to animal-borne sensors to genomic and remote-sensing technologies-to track, study, and understand current environmental problems and their implications.

Observations in Ecology can play a key role in understanding our changing planet and the consequences of human activities on ecological processes. This book will serve as an important resource for future scientists and conservation leaders who are seeking a more holistic and applicable approach to ecological science.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Arizona, United States

    Rafe Sagarin

  • University of Montana and North Carolina State University, United States

    Aníbal Pauchard

About the authors

Rafe Sagarin is an assistant research scientist, marine ecologist, and environmental policy analyst, Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona.Aníbal Pauchard is Associate Professor of Plant Ecology and Invasion Biology in the Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile.

Bibliographic Information